IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  87^-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  IHistorical  l\/licroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Notas  tachniquas  at  bibliographiquaa 


Tha  Instituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  the  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  In  tha 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
tha  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


□    Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couieur 


r~n    Covers  damaged/ 


D 


D 
D 


n 


D 


Couverture  endommagie 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  reataurie  et/ou  pellicula 


I — I    Cover  title  miasing/ 


La  titre  de  couverture  manque 


Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gtographiques  en  couieur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  then  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couieur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I — I   Coloured  plataa  and/or  illuatrations/ 


D 


Planchaa  et/ou  illustrations  en  couieur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReliA  avac  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cauae  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  iiure  serrAe  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  l«  long  de  la  marg*  int^rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certainea  pagea  blanches  ajoutiaa 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dana  la  texte. 
maia.  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pagea  n'ont 
pea  «t«  filmAas. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentairas  suppl^mantaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  la  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  it*  possible  de  se  procurer.  Las  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mAthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqute  ci-dessous. 

□   Coloured  pages/ 
Pagea  da  couieur 

□    Pagea  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagAas 

p~l    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


D 


Pages  restaurias  et/ou  pellicuiies 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxei 
Pages  dicoiortes.  tachaties  ou  piquies 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  dAtachies 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prin 

Qualiti  inigale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  material  suppiimantaira 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponible 


rrn  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

p~]  Pages  detached/ 

FTI  Showthrough/ 

r~n  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

nn  Includes  supplementary  materia 

|~n  Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  ^o 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Lea  pegea  totalement  ou  partieilement 
obacurciaa  par  un  feuiilet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc..  ont  M  fiimtes  i  nouveau  de  fapon  i 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  d*  rMuction  indiqu*  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  ItX  22X 


26X 


30X 


/ 


12X 


lex 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  ba«n  reproduced  thenks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Seminary  of  Quebec 
Library 


L'exemplaire  filmi  fut  reproduit  grdce  i  la 
g^ntrositA  de: 

Siminaire  de  Quebec 
Bibliotlidque 


The  images  appeering  here  are  the  best  quality 
poMible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  iceeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  bacic  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copiee  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  eech  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —^(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Lee  images  suivantes  ont  At*  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin.  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet*  de  l'exemplaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avec  lea  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Lee  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim^e  sont  fiimAs  en  commenpant 
per  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  ie  second 
plet.  selon  le  ces.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  fiimis  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  seion  le 
caa:  le  symbols  — *>  signifie  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc..  mey  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  lerge  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  ere  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hend  comer,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  aa 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illuatrate  the 
method: 


Lee  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  4tre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  rMuction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  ie  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich*.  il  est  film*  d  partir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  k  droite. 
et  de  heut  en  bea.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Las  diagrammes  suivants 
iliustrent  ie  m^thode. 


1  2  3 


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3 

4 

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^^MrtBern  Colonies  Confidercd. 


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THE 

STATE 

OF 

TRADE 

I  N    T  H  E 

Northern  Colonies 

CONSIDER  E.Dj 
1^  I  T  H 

An  Account  of  their  Produce,! 

And  a  particular  DESCRIPTION  pf 

NOF A  SCOTIA 

Salutis  communis  intereft. 


.1.. 


Cic. 


e/y^a<S^ 


K 


LONDON  Printed,  1748. 

£^o«  Re-printed,  and  fold  by  Thomas  Fleet,  at  the  Heart 
and  Crown  in  Corohill,  1749. 


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THE 


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PREFACE 

A  5  the  following  Jhort  Treatife  was  baftily  wrote ^  it  may 
probably  appear  incorreSi  to  the  judicious ;  but  as  the 
J^efignwas  to  reprefent  the  Value  and  Importance  of  the  Nor- 
them  Coloniej  to  this  Kingdom,  I  hope  it  will  anfwer  my  InteX' 
tions  of  promoting  the  public  Good. 

Their  Trade  and  Produce  have  not  hitherto  been  properly 
encouraged^  altho*  their  Utility  may  be  eaftly  comprehended ;  a 
fmall  Bounty  on  the  feveral  rough  Materials  they  are  capable 
cfraijtng,  and /hipping  Home,  would  foon  enable  them  tofup- 
fly  the  Nation  with  a  Variety  of  Articles^  in  Return  for  its 
Manufafiures,  which  are  now  purchafed  of  Foreigners  with 
Cafh,  and  imported  in  their  Ships. 

The  Settling  of  Nova  Scotia  will  in  a  few  Tears  render 
the  prefent  Inhabitants  indujirious  and  ufefuU  whereby  it  may 
be  jujily  accounted  a  moft  valuable  Acquijition^  which  ^  ?  be 
the  more  conjiderable,  as  the  Conditions  of  its  Settlement  v.ay 
be  fo  advantageoufly  calculated  as  to  fill  it  without  draining- 
aur  Mother-  Country  of  its  Inhabitants.  For  this  Purpofe  I 
have  defcribed  the  Soil,  Quality,  and  Manner  of  improving 
the  feveral  Parts  of  it  from  my  own  Ohfervation,  whereby 
it  will  appear  how  eaftly  it  may  be  effected  at  a  very  fmall 
Charge,  compared  with  the  Benefits  that  will  naturally  refult 
from  it. —  But  if  they  were  doubtful,  yet  the  Advantages  the 
French  might  otherwife  make  of  this  Province^  and  the  IVant 
of  an  effectual  Barrier  for  fecuring  the  Poffi-Jjion,  Trade, 
and  Fifhery  of  the  Northern  Colonies  againft  their  Efforts  in 
a  future  War,  fufiliciently  demon/irate  the  Necejfity  of  keep- 
ing it  out  of  their  Hands%  without  being  diverted  by  the  Con- 

fideration 


C  V?.  J 

fideration  of  the  Efcpme^  and  ibis  is  the  mre  obvious,  and 
important f  as  they  infill  always  he  expofed  to  the  Attacks  of 
the  French,  from  the  Neighbourhood  o^  Cape  Breton. 

1  ptuft  here  beg  the  Reader* s  Indulgence  for  faying  a  Word 
in  Support  of  my  Remarks  on  that  Idand. 

1  am  fenftble  that  a  high  Opinion  has  been  conceived  of 
its  Worthy  and  with  good  Reafon,from  the  concurrent  Accounts 
of  both  Englifli  and  French  Writers ;  but  as  the  former  have 
been  principally  copied  from  the  latter,  their  Veracity  may 
he  fairly  called  in  ^eftion :  7bis  I  have  a  Right  to  do,  from 
the  exaSleft  Information  I  could  obtain  on  the  Spot,  and  I 
canfafely  appeal  to  the  mofi  intelligent  Perfons,  who  have  re- 
ftded  there  long  enough  to  make  proper  Obfervations,  to  con* 
firm  what  I  have  advanced. 

By  fortifying  Nova  Scotia,  by  encouraging  the  Importa' 
tion  of  its  Produce  to  be  wrought  up  here,  and  promoting  the 
Ftfhery  in  ^ime  of  Peace ;  by  ftationing  a  proper  Naval 
Force  there,  and  on  the  Coaft  of  New- England  in  7'ime  of 
War,  this  Kingdom  may  fecure  to  itfelf  all  the  Advantages 
that  could  have  arofe  from  the  Poffeffion  of  Louifbourg,  at 
a  lefs  Expence  than  would  have  been  requifite  for  keeping 
fo  large  a  Fortrefs  in  Repair,  and  defending  it  with  a  pro- 
per Garrifon. 

Settling  of  the  Cape  Sable  Shore,  will  undoubtedly  make 
a  Winter* s  tod- Fifhery  practicable t  and  may  foon  become  more 
conftderahle  than  any  that  has  ever  been  proCecuted,  and  as 
the  Fifh  caught  and  cured  in  that  Seafon  exceeds  all  others, 
they  will  of  courfe  come  to  a  better  Market  in  all  Parts  of 
the  World. 

'Otis  Little. 


/' 


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by 

inc 


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its 
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,*lt?^  -IT.-   /^>.r  <)    . 
■  /P"  .'ti-Y><'t^^.-',.'  "1-- 

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*•('*■, 

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THE 


STATE 


O  F    T  H  E 


North^American  Trade   and  Settlements, 

confidered ; 

With  a  particular  ACCOUNT  of 

NOVA  SCOTIA. 


GREAt'BRlTAIlSI  has  enjoyed  the  Bene- 
fit of  a  mod  extenfiye  Commerce,  fmce  the 
Difcovcry  of  America,  which,  if  properly  at- 
tended to,  will  contribute  more  to  its  future 
Intereft,  than  any  other  Branches  of  Trade, 
by  cnlargirg  the  Demand  for  all  its  Manufadlures,  and 
increaGng  the  Means  of  its  Naval  Force. 

That  the  Riches  and  Strength  of  this  Nation  depend 
principally  on  its  Commerce  with  foreign  Countries,  and 
its  own  Colonies,  is  a  Fa6fc  that  needs  no  Illnftration  ;  it 
being  equally  true  in  Regard  to  all  trading  Kingdoms  > 
for  the  Increafe  of  Wealth  and  Power  has  generally  been 
proportionate  to  the  Englargement  of  their  Trade,  and 

Hiftory 


f  8) 

Hiftory  fully  proves,  that  Ruin  and  Defolation  have  al- 
ways attended  the  Lofs  of  it ;  the  mod  Hourifhing  are  in- 
debted to  it  for  their  Grandeur,  and  the  mod  opulent  and 
powerful  have  been  undone  by  the  Negleft  of  it. 

As  every  State  in  Europe  feems  defirous  of  increaling 
its  Trade,  and  the  Acquifition  of  Wealth  enlarges  the 
Means  of  Power,  it  is  necelTary,  in  order  to  preferve  an 
Equality  with  them,  that  this  Kingdom  extends  its  Com* 
merce  in  proportion ;  but  to  acquire  a  Superiority,  due 
Encouragement  ought  to  be  given  to  fuch  of  its  Branches, 
as  will  mofl:  effectually  enrich  its  Inhabitants. 

As  Trade  enables  the  Subjeft  to  fupport  the  Admini- 
ftration  of  Government,  the  leiTening  or  deftroying  that 
of  a  Rival,  has  the  fame  eflfeCb,  as  if  this  Kingdom  had 
enlarged  the  Sources  of  its  own  Wealth;  it  :s  evident 
from  hence,  that  it  is  not  fufHcient  to  fupport  the  Credit 
of  a  Country  with  its  Neighbours,  that  its  Commerce  be 
enlarged  only,  unlefs  its  Increafe  be  proportionate  to  theirs: 
But,  as  an  Afcendency  is  to  be  gained  by  checking  the 
Growth  of  theirs,  as  well  as  by  the  Increafe  of  our  own» 
whenever  one  of  thefe  happens  to  be  the  Confequence  of 
the  other  to  this  Nation,  its  Figure  and  Reputation  will 
rife  CO  a  greater  Height  than  ever. 

My  Purpofe  being  to  fhew  how  far  thefe  good  EfFefts 
may  be  produced  by  encouraging  the  North  American 
Trade  and  Settlements,  I  fhall  confine  myfelf  to  thofe 
Branches  which  are  capable  of  the  greateft  Improvement. 

That  the  Riches  of  a  Country  conjifts  in  the  Number  of  its 
Inhabitants,  is  an  Expreffion  that  drops  from  the  Pen  of 
every  Writer;  but  it  muft  always  be  underflood,  that 
thofe  Inhabitants  are  properly  employed,  and  fuitably 
encouraged ;  for,  otherwife,  it  would  appear  to  be  an  odd 
Fcfition,  that  a  Country  fhould  be  called  rich,  when  it 
is  only  filled  with  Vagabonds  and  Beggars. 

But  when  it  is  confidered,  that  the  Northern  Colonies,  in 
lefs  than  fve  Years,  have  loft  &hov c  feven  thoufand  of 
their  moft  aflive  and  induftrious  Inhabitants  by  an  un- 
common Ardour  in  exerting  themfelves  for  the  public 

Good, 


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( 

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SI 

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^^^Km"  ^ 

'  ^^B '  '^ 

-   ' 

^H^ 

B' 

B 

Cp) 

Good,  befides  a  Habit  of  Idlenefs  that  has  been  contract- 
ed by  a  ]arge  Body,  which  has  been  long  in  Arms  wait- 
ing for  Employment ;  to  which  may  be  added  three  thou* 
fand  more,  who  having  entred  on  board  his  Majefty'a 
Ships  of  War,  and  Privateers,  are  never  liice  to  return  ; 
their  lofs  will  appear  almoft  invaluable,  and  not  to  be 
repaired  but  by  replacing  a  much  fuperiour  Number  of 
Men  in  the  Country.  From  the  apparent  Connexion  be- 
tween the  Northern  Colonies  and  the  H^eft  Indies^  and 
their  joint  Relation  to  this  Kingdom,  ic  is  evident,  that 
the  Increafe  of  Inhabitants  in  the  former,  will  contribute 
more  to  the  common  Intereft,  than  employing  the  like 
Number  at  Home.  This,  Mr.  Wood  in  a  Treatife  on 
Trade,  has  demonftrated  to  be  nearly  in  proportion  of  five 
to  one;  from  whence  it  follows,  that  the  before- mention- 
ed Lofs  is  equal  to  that  oi  fifty  thou/and  Labourers  and 
Artificers  here;  and  in  regard  to  thofe  Colonies  vaftly 
exceeds  the  Grant  lately  made  them  by  Parliament,  as 
the  Value  of  their  Labour  for  three  Years  only  would 
have  been  equal  to  that  Sum ;  and  notwithdanding  a 
Jealoufy  has  been  frequently  excited  on  account  of  their 
Growth,  it  will  appear,  chat  the  Commerce  and  Naval 
Power  of  this  Kingdom  will  greatly  depend  on  their  fu- 
ture Encouragement  and  Prote6l:ion. 

The  Policy  and  Wifdom  of  a  Government  difcovers 
itfelf  in  nothing  more  evidently,  than  by  proportioning  its 
Influences  fo  as  to  fupport,  and  cherifh  the  Circulation  of 
Trade,  and  Manufaftures,  in  its  minute  Parts,  as  well  as 
its  large  and  more  opulent  Members ;  the  fmilier  Wheels 
in  a  Machine  being  as  neceiTiry  to  make  it  ufeful  as  the 
largefl:,  and  commonly  require  the  niceft  Skill  of  the 
Artificer  in  their  Regulation :  And  without  a  due  Regard 
be  had  in  every  State  to  the  Trade  of  its  Individuals, 
there  is  the  greateft  Danger  of  the  weaker  Parts  being 
opprefied  by  the  ftronger  ; , and  whenever  this  h-ppers, 
the  Extremities  are  fure  of  being  the  firft,  and  general- 
ly the  greateft  Sufferers,  as  by  their  Remotentfs  from  the 
Vitals,  they  feel  lefs  of  their  Influences,  and  labour  longeft 

B  under 


C   10  ) 

undelr  their  Diftrefs ;  and  although  DIfordcrs  oF  this  Kind 
do  not  immediately  aflfc6t  the  whole,  yet  the  fmalleft 
Obftru6tiOns,  if  not  feafonably  removed,  often  produce  a 
general  Stagnation,  and  may  prove  as  dangerous  to  the 
political,  as  to  the  natural  Body. 

It  may  not  be  improper  to  obferve,  before  I  proceed 
any  fafther,  that  fome  Perfons,  either  thro*  Prejudice,  or 
for  Want  of  better  Information,  are  too  apt  to  infinuate, 
that  great  Care  ought  to  be  taken^  lefi  thofe  Colonies  grow 
too  powerful  and  Jet  up  a  Government  of  their  own.     This 
is  fo  far  from  having  the  lead  Foundation  to  fupport  ir, 
that  I  am  pofitive  no  People  on  Earth  are  more  firmly 
attached  to  their  Prince,  than  they  are  to  his  Majefty  and 
the  prefent  Eftablilhment,  being  all  Proteflants,  who  have 
ever  manifefted  the  greateft  Abhorrence  of  Popery,  by 
which  Means  Roman-  Catholicks  have  been  always  deter- 
red from  fettling  in  the  Country,  and  their  conftant,  and 
repeated   Demonftrations   of   Zeal   and  Loyalty  to  the 
Britijh  Government,  are  fufficient  to  clear  them  from  every 
Afperfion  of  this  Kind ;  but  to  make  the  Matter  more 
evident,  it  may  be  obferved,  that  if  they  were  ten  Times 
more  populous,  and  wealthy  than  they  are  at  prefent,  no 
Motive  could  be  urg'd  of  fufHcient  Weight  to  induce  them 
to  a  Revolt;  neither  the  Love  of  Liberty,  Force  ofOp- 
prejp.on.  Burthen  of  Tcxes,  or  Defire  of  become ing  more 
powerful,  could  poffibly  Influence  them  to  ftruggle  for 
Indcpeni*ency  :  l\  the  Love  of  Power  and  Liberty  fhould 
be  taken  into  Confideration,  *(is  apparent  that  they  enjoy 
as  great  a  Share  of  both  as  any  of  his  Majsfty's  Subjeds, 
and  much  more  than  if  they  v/ere  an  independent  Govern- 
ment; for,  in  that  cafe,  they  mufi:  be  fuppofed  to  put 
themfclves  into  the  Hands  of  fome  foreign  State,  which 
could  proteft  them  from  the  juft  Refentment  of  this  King- 
dom ;  and  it  is  well  known  that  is  not  to  be  done  ;  but 
if  it  could,  to  whom  are  they  to  apply  that  would  continue. 
to  them  the   Liberties  they  enjoy  now  ?  No  People  in 
their  Senfes  would  fubjtd  ihemfelves  to  the  French,  Spaniards 
or  Dutch,  with  a  View  of  fecuring  their  Privileges  with 

greater 


^1 


,^^'-  V, 


greater  TfanquSfty  than  they  at  prefent  enjoy  them ;  and 
ihould  they  aim  at  abfolute  Independency,  the  Expence 
of  defending  themfelves  would  infinitely  exceed  any  they 
have  yet  been  fuDJe6t  to,  and  indeed,  they  could  not  fub- 
fift  without  the  Piotediion  of  their  Mother  Country. 

As  to  any  Difcontents  that  might  arife  from  Oppref- 
(ion,  or  the  Burthen  of  Taxes,  they  are  fubj«  6t  to  none 
but  fuch  as  refult  from  the  Laws  of  their  own  making, 
an  Indulgence  they  efteem  themfelves  fecured  of  undtT 
a  Proteilant  King,  and  which  gives  them  a  Share  of 
Power  equal  to  their  Defires ;  and  as  their  very  Being, 
in  a  Manner,  depends  on  this  Kingdom,  their  Trade  fs 
fo  clofely  connedfced  with,  and  grafted  on  it,  that  nothing 
would  fo  efFedtually  ruin  them,  as  to  be  deprived  of  it ; 
for  were  they  to  be  fupplied  »vith  European  Goods  by 
any  other  State,  the  Difference  would  prove  fatal  to 
them.  Upon  the  whole,  nothing  can,  nor  ever  wi^ll,  pre- 
vail upon  them  to  attempt,  or  think  of  a  State  of  Indepen- 
dency, whilft  they  enjoy  the  Freedoni  of  Englijh  Sub- 
jects under  fo  happy  a  Conftitution. 

But  if,  after  all,  it  be  thought  dangerous  to  fuffer  the 
Colonies  to  grow  too  large,  left  they  (hould  take  it  into 
their  Heads  to  revolt,  'tis  pretty  extraordinary,  that  nei- 
ther the  French^  Dutch  nor  Spaniards  have  ever  Deen  dif- 
couraged    from  promoting  their   American   Settlements  ; 
their  Cafe  is  widely  different  from  ours ;  were  the  French 
or  Dutch  Colonies,  for  inftance,  to  revolt  to  the  EngUJJj^ 
it  would  fcarce  be  poflible  for  France  or   Hcllafid  to  re  • 
gain  them ;  bat  as  to  the  Spanijh  Dominions  ia  Amerlcat 
not  all  the  Force  of  Old  Spain^  if  it  was  contiguous  to 
that  Continent,  would  be  fufficient  to  reduce  them  -,  and 
^  although  there  is  fcarce  a  Native  of  America  that  is  fuf- 
fered  to  hold  a  Poft  of  Profit,  they  wear  their  Chains 
with   great  Contentment ;  but  to  fuppofe  a  People  fub- 
j:6t  to  none  of  thefe  Grievances  capable;  of  a  tingle  Thouf^hc 
of  fetting  up  for   themfelves,  is  branding  them  with  a 
pifpoCtion  fo  foolilh  and  unaccountable  as  cannot  wtll 
be  conceived, 

B  2  To 


-■^iJ^.JLjj^^'^ 


*<*»***;, 


C  >*  ) 

To  (hew  what  may  be  faved  to  the  Kingdom,  as  well 
as  gained  by  its  enlarged  Trade  to  the  Northern  Plan- 
tations, 'tis  to  my  Purpofe  to  obferve,  that  the  Sugar-Co- 
lonies could  net  fubfift  without  them  :  Moft  of  the  Mate- 
rials for  their  Buildings  and  Works,  as  well  as  Provifions, 
Ca(H  for  spirits,  Sugars,  Molaffes,  i^c.  come  from  thence, 
and  that  they  conftantly  fend  the  greateft  Part  of  their  Ef- 
fedls  home  in  New  EnglandhvWt  Ships,  without  which 
they  wjuld  not  be  able  to  bear  the  Duties  paid  in  this 
Kingdom,  by  reafon  of  the  exceffive  Price  of  Freights. 

This,  if  rightly  confidered,  will  appear  to  be  an  Ar- 
ticle of  great  Importance  in  regard  to  the  French  Weft- 
Indies,   Mr.  JJJoley  has  very  juftly  obferved.  That,  *  fhould 

*  Plantation  built  Ships  be  difcouraged.  Freight  would  be 

*  fo  dear,  as  to  lofe  the  Brilijh  Nation  one  of  the  great- 

*  eft  Advantages  over  its  Rivals  in  Trade, — a  low  Freight  \ 

*  and    from  the  great   TrafHck  of  the  Kingdom,   they 

*  muft    be  compelled   to  buy  Materials  for  building  of 

*  Ships,  of  Foreigners^  with  Cafli,  inftead  of  their  own 
'  Manufudures,  to  the  enriching  of  fuch  Foreigners^  and 

*  the  Difcouragement  of  our  American  Colonies :  That  in- 

*  (lead  of  prejudicing  that  Branch  of  Bi  finefs  here,  the 

*  refuting  and  liniihing  Plantation- built  Ships  often  gives 

*  as  much  Advantage  to  the  Shipwrights,  as  the  building 

*  of  new  Ships.     The  French   take  the   Benefit  of  our 

*  Plantation  built  Ships  to  carry  their  Sugars  to  Spain^  and 

*  commonly  pay  them  in  the  Produce  of  their  own  IQands, 

*  and  have,  in  this  Inftance,  a  very  great  Advantage  of 

*  us»     **  That  the  faving  a  Shilling  or  Eighteen-pence  on- 

*  ly  per  Hundred  in  the  Article   of  Freight,  would  go 

*  near  to  enable  us  to  under-fell  them  at  foreign  Markets, 

*  if  the  Ships  employed  in  the  Sugar  Trade  were  indulg- 

*  cd  with  the  fame  Privileges,  as  thofe  which  are  com- 

*  monlv  called  J5f  Ships.     That  the  flourilhing  State  of 

*  the  Briti/}j  Commerce,  and  the  Revenues  arifmg  there- 

*  from,  are,  in  no  fmall  Degree,  owing  to  a  low  Freight^ 

*  occafioned  chiefly  from  our  building  Ships  fo  cheap  in  our 

*  American  Flantations,    That  fwce  the  pr^nak  ftruggle 

'  fo 


i 


*f(l 

•tl 

«c 
M 

•1 

•i 
M 

c 

« 
« 

*  1 


:^^Tmmmm 


as  well 
n  Plan- 
igar-Co- 
e  Mate- 
)vifions, 

thence, 
heir  Ef- 
t  which 

in  this 
ghts. 
an  Ar- 
h  JVefi^ 
'  fliould 
ould  be 
i  great- 
"^r eight  \ 
I,   they 
iing  of 
ir  own 
rs^  and 
'hat  in- 
re,  the 
1  gives 
uilding 
of  our 
/■«,  and 
[flands, 
age  of 
jce  on- 
jld  go 
arkets, 
ndulg- 

com- 
tate  of 
there- 
Wtghty 
in  our 
Uggje 

'  ft 


(13) 

*  fo  hard  to  gather  Sf^^ngih  in  America^  furely  it  is  the 

*  true  Intereft  of  iL:     kingdom  to  do  fo  too,  and  to  en- 

*  courage  its  NorthcM^,  as  well  as  its  Southern  Colonies, 

*  fo  that  they  may  both  contribute  to  the  Support  and 

*  Benefit  of  their  Mother  Country.     "  ^he  Northern  Co- 

*  lonies  are  a  great  Support  to  the  Naval  Power  of  Great- 

*  Britain,  and  ajift^  in  a  great  Meafure^   in  giving  us  a 

*  Superiority  at  Sea  over  all  other  Nations  in  the  World :  They 

*  fupply  the  King's  Yards  with  great  Quantities  of  Mads, 

*  Yards  and  Bowfprits  inftead  of  thofe  of  foreign  Growth, 

*  with  Pitch,  Tar  and  Turpentine,  for  ail  which  immenfe 

*  Quantities  of  Gocds  are  exported  from   Great  Britain^ 

*  which  prevents  five  Times  the  Value  thereof  from  go- 

*  ing  out  of  the  Kingdom  in  Cafh  to  Sweden,  and  other 

*  foreign  Countries.* 

All  the  Articles  with  which  the  Britijb  Weft  Indies  are 
fupplied,  require  a  great  Number  of  Artificers  and  la- 
bouring Men  to  fit  them  for  Shipping ;  and  they  are  in 
fuch  Demand,  as  to  be  the  moll  confiderabte  Branch  of 
the  New  England  Trade,  although  the  Price  of  every 
Article  is  fo  high,  as  greatly  to  affedt  the  Value  and  In- 
creafe  of  the  Weji-Jndia  Produce  •,  but  if  the  Price  of 
Labour  in  the  Northern  Colonies  could  be  reduced  Jifty 
per  Cent,  the  Weft- India  Iflands  would  receive  all  their 
Supplies  fo  much  cheaper  as  to  be  able,  in  thirty  or  forty 
Years,  to  double  their  Remittances,  and,  confequently,  the 
Jputies  paid  on  Importation. 

By  enlarging  the  Trade,  and  increafing  the  Number  of 
Inhabitants  in  the  Northern  Colonies,  their  Demand  and 
Abilities  to  pay  for  Britijb  Goods  would  be  proportionable. 

But  the  Price  of  the  feveral  Commodities  with  which 
the  Sugar-Colonies  are  fupplied,  and  thofe  which  are  re- 
turned to  England^  is  much  higher  than  if  the  Country 
was  fuller  of  Inhabitants,  the  Want  of  which  difables  the 
Merchant  from  (hipping  its  Produce,  but  to  his  own  Lofg, 
unlefs  he  carefully  attends  to  fuch  Articles  as,  by  a  Fludtu- 
aticn  peculiar  to  Trade,  come  to  a  better  Market  at  one 
time  Chan  another  %  but  were  the  Price  of  Labour  re- 
duced, 


^^L^imr^ 


X  14  ) 

duced,  every  Cargo  he  (hipped  would  (land  charged  at  a 
lower  Price,  and  he  would  be  enabled  to  pay  more  for 
his  Goods  in  England  as  foon  as  they  are  purchafeO. 

The  Reduftion  of  the  Price  of  Freight  from  the  ff^efl- 
Jndiesy  by  increa(ing  the  Number  of  Ships,  is  an  Article 
of  great  Confcquence  to  the  Sugar  Idands,  in  which  they 
cannot  well  be  eafed,  but  by  Means  of  the  Northern  Co- 
lonies ;  for  their  Confumption  of  Britijh  Manufactures  is  fo 
inconliderable,  compared  with  the  Effefts  they  feBd  Home, 
that  the  Owners  of  VefTels  here  mufl  fit  them  out  for  the 
common  Profit  of  Freights  from  thence  only ;  but  Ithe 
Merchants  in  New-England  are  conftantly  employed  in 
building  Ships  for  their  Correfpondents  in  this  Kingdom, 
which  are  full  freighted  from  Bollon  to  the  fFeft-Indies^ 
and  very  often  the  Profit  is  equal  to,  and  fometimes  ex- 
ceeds that  of  the  Freight  to  England^  fo  that  the  Increafe 
of  Ships  will  not  only  oblige  them  to  carry  their  Freights 
cheaper,  but  will  cccafion  a  conftant  and  large  Supply  of 
all  the  North  American  Produce,  by  which  they  will  be 
enabled  to  increale  their  Stock,  fettle  new  Plantations, 
and,  in  a  few  Years,  pay  double  the  Duty  here  upon  the 
Produce  of  their  own  Iflands,  which  is  an  Event  that 
principally  depends  on  the  Increafe  of  Inhabitants  in  the 
Northern  Colonies. 

The  eafier  to  comprehend  the  Certainty  of  this  Obfer- 
vation,  it  is  nectffary  to  caft  our  Eyes  41  Vhile  on  the 
French  Sugar- Iflands,  whofe  Supplies  have?  Opmmonly  coft 
them  thirty  or  forty  per  Cent,  more  than"  our  own ;  not- 
withftanding  which,  the  Progrefs  they  have  made  fince 
the  laft  War,  bids  fair  for  fupplying  all  Europe  with  Su- 
gars, and  whenever  they  are  lurniflied  with  the  Produce 
pf  North' /America y  as  cheap  as  our  Iflands,  they  will  be 
able  to  underfell  us  at  all  foreign  Markets. 

An  Objcdtion  has  often  been  made  againft  promoting 
the  Interell  of  the  Northern  Colonies,  on  account  of  the 
inconfiderable  Proportion  they  pay  to  the  public  Revenue, 
notwichftanding  it  is  pretty  evident,  that  neither  the  Sou- 
thern Colojiiesj  nor  the  fVeji- Indies  would  be  able  to  pay 


-iro!iiWt.><te»     ■'*■*«■■— 


any  Outies  at  all,  were  it  not  for  the  Supplies  and  Affiftance 
of  tl^e  former :  But  fuppofing  this  was  not  the  Cafe,  and 
that  the  Northern  Colonies  yearly  receive  Jin  hundred 
thoufanci  Pounds  in  Britijb  Manufactures,  which  are  paid 
for  in  fuch  Articles  as  are  confumed  m  England,  and  pay 
no  Duty  ;  on  the  other  hand,  the  fTeft- India  Iflands  year- 
ly receive  the  Value  of  four  hundred  thoufand  Pounds  in 
Britijh  Manufactures,  and  remit  fix  hundred  thoufand 
Pounds  Sterling  in  Sugars,  (^c.  ttiat  pay  Duty  here,  this 
Kingdom  gains  more  by  the  former  than  the  latter ;  this 
follows  from  the  Daty*s  being  paid  finally  by  the  Con- 
fumer ;  for  were  it  taken  off,  certainly  ttie  Price  of  Sugars 
would  fall  in  proportion,  and,  consequently,  the  whoie 
Amount  of  the  Duty  would  be  faved  by  the  Cbnfumers  $ 
and  was  it  to  be  laid  on  the  Produce  of  the  Northern 
Colonies  in  the  fame  Proportion,  all  the  Difference  would 
confift  in  fhifting  the  Payment  from  the  Confumers  of  the 
former  to  the  Confumers  of  the  latter,  and  yet  the  Sub- 
jedt  pays  it  here  in  either  Cafe. 

But  what  moft  nearly  concerns  the  Interefl  of  Greai 
Britain  is,  the  furprizing  Progrefs  the  French  have  made, 
and  are  fo  intent  in  purfuing,  by  Means  of  their  Plantation- 
Trade  ;  it  is  evident,  that  the  Supplies  of  Provifions  from 
Irelandy  and  both  Provifions  and  Lumber  from  New-  Eng- 
land^ have  been  no  inconfiderable  Means  of  their  Growth  i 
but  to  leave  them  both  out  of  the  Queflion,  the  French  are 
endeavouring,  by  all  poflible  Means,  to  furnifh  themfelves 
with  thefe  Articles  from  their  own  Northern  Colonics. 

The  Englifh  were,  for  fome  Time,  pofTclTed  of  the  Sea- 
Coaft  of  North  Americay  before  the  French  had  made  any 
confiderable  Progrefs  in  it  •,  they  at  firft  fettled  on  the  North 
Side  of  the  River  St,  Lawrence^  and  gradually  extended 
their  Settlements  from  thence  to  the  Mouth  of  Af//^//)iRt*- 
ver,  cultivating  the  ftridleft  Harmony  with  the  Natives, 
by  inter- Marriages,  and  profelyting  them  to  the  Romifh 
Faithy  whereby  they  maintain  a  regular  Correfpondence 
through  feveral  Lakes,  and  large  Branches  of  thole  Rivers, 
for  near  eight  hundred  Leagues,  on  the  B^ck  of  all  the  Eng- 

lifb 


lijh  Colonies ;  this  not  only  makes  them  Mailers  of  the  Furr 
Trade,  but  will  in  Time  put  it  in  their  Power  to  furnilh 
France  and  the  We fi- Indies  with  all  Sorts  of  Naval  Stores, 
Ships,  Iron,  Hemp,  Flax,  and  every  thing  elfe  they  are  in 
Want  of  that  is  produced  in  North  America, 

I  am  fenfible  thofe  Parts  of  New  France  that  lie  in  the 
moft  Northern  Latitudes,  are  not  likely  to  produce  many 
of  thofe  Articles ;  but  as  they  claim  a  Traft  of  Land  of 
vaft  Extent,  viz.  from  New  Orleans  on  the  South,  to  th^ 
Latitude  oijixiy  Degrees  North,  which  is  zbove Jix  hundred 
Leagues  *,  and  in  Breadth  from  the  Streights  of  Bellijle  in 
Longitude  fifty-Jeven  Weft,  to  the  Lake  Be  Bois,  is  not  lefs 
ihsin  Jix  hundred  Leagues  from  Eaft  to  Weft,  every  thing 
is  to  be  found  in  it  that  the  Englijh  Colonies  can  boaft  of. 

Thus  the  French  have  artfully  extended  their  Lines 
within  our  Colonies,  not  only  with  a  Defign  to  cut  ofFour 
Communication,  and  trade  with  the  Natives,  but  to  croud 
fuch  of  them  into  the  Sea,  as  are  too  weak  to  make  a  Re- 
(iftance,  and,  finally,  to  mafter  the  whole  Continent. 

This  is  not  an  Event  that  may  feem  practicable  in  an 
Age,  but  yet  the  Continuance  of  the  fame  Zeal  and  Care 
in  promoting  their  Settlements  for  thirty  Years  to  come, 
which  has  fo  manifeftly  evinced  itfelf  for  thirty  Years  paft, 
would  render  it  no  difHcult  Undertaking;  befides,"  the 
ambitious  Views  of  frame  leave  no  room  to  doubt,  but 
they  will  attempt  what  their  Intereft  fo  evidently  calls  for  ; 
it  is  beyond  Difpute  that  their  Proceedings  on  this  Plan 
will  foon  put  it  in  their  Power  j  the  Poffcffion  of  Nova 
Scotia  only  lor  twenty  Years  in  Peace  or  War,  would  be 
no  inccnfiderable  Means  of  efTefting  it. 

Should  the  Britijh  Colonies  be  neglefted,  or  not  equally 
countenanced  with  the  French,  or  to  make  it  worfe,  fliould 
an  unfeafonible  ind  groundlefs  Jealouly  be  the  Means  of 
checking  their  Growth,  and  difcouraging  their  Settlements, 
whilft  the  French  are  ftriving  with  all  their  Might  to 
cherilh  theirs,  and  fpare  neither  Art,  Labour  nor  Expence 
to  make  them  confiderable,  furely  no  one  can  doubt  but 
the  Event  muft  prove  fatal  to  us. 

It 


•*^j 


/( 


It 


V. 


C  17) 

tt  is  evident  what  Strefs  the  pyench  lay  upon  North 
America^  from  the  immenfe  Sums  they  have  expended  to 
fecure  their  Pofleflions,  and  to  reduce  ours  to  their  Obe- 
dience ;  the  Charge  of  fortifying  Louijburgh  and  ^ehec^ 
the  Penfions  and  Salaries  yearly  paid  in  Canada^  the  Lofs 
attending  Duke  B* /1nville*s  fruitlefs  Attempt  on  Nova 
Scotia  and  Cape  Breton,  and  the  great  additional  One  of 
their  Fleet  the  laft  Year,  muft  amount  to  an  immenfe 
Sum  i  one  tenth  Part  of  which  expended  in  the  fettlii  g 
of  N9va  Scotia,  would  be  produftive  of  fuch  Advantages 
in  the  Increafe  of  the  moft  valuable  Brances  of  Trade,  as 
would  exceed  the  whole  Expence  the  French  have  been 
at  in  promoting  and  fecuring  their  Colonies. 

The  Whak-Viihtxy,  which  is  now  totally  neglefted, 
might  be  rendered  very  profitable  if  properly  attended  to ; 
how  this  Nation  lliould  have  difcont'nued  it  ib  long  is 
difficult  to  account  for,  but  it  may  be  obferved  fince  the 
Merchants  here  decline  it,  that  the  Manner  of  fitting  VefTels, 
Boats,  Craft,  and  killing  ths  Fifli,  in  praftice  amongft  the 
New- England-Men,  exceeds  that  of  any  People  in  Europe^ 
makes  their  Succeffes  more  certain  and  their  Voyages  lefs 
expenfive,  but  the  Want  of  Seamen  prevents  their  profe- 
cuting  of  it  to  Advantage ;  by  transferring  this  Bufinefs 
from  the  Dutch  to  the  Colonies,  they  might  not  only  lup- 
ply  Great-Britain  with  Bone  and  Oil  for  home  Confumpti- 
on,  but  with  large  Quantities  for  Exportation,  and  increafe 
the  Demand  for  Briti/h  Manufactures. 

After  having  thus  lightly  touched  upon  thefe  Points,  I 
prefume  it  will  be;  agreeable  to  give  a  brief  Defcription 
of  the  Northern  Colonies,  more  particularly  of  thofe  Parts 
which  are  moil"  commodious  for  new  S;^ttlements. 

NEfV-ENGLAND  is  bounded  by  New  Tork  on  the 
Weft,  New  France  on  the  North  Weft,  Nova  Scotia  on  the 
North- Eaft,  and  the  m.iin  Ocean  on  the  Eaft  and  South, 
extending  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  Leagues  froni 
South  to  North,  and  eighty  L^at^ues  in  Breadth  from  E  til 
to  Wert  ;  thefe  Limits  comprchenc?  four  difierent  Govern- 
ments) m,  the  Provinces  of  the  Mo£'.Khufi(ti   Biy,  and 

Q  New 


C  «8  ) 

New  Hampjlire,  the  Colonies  qf  ConneElicut^  and  Rhbh^ 
IJland  i  the  Province  of  the  Majfachufets  being  much  the 
iargeft,  contains  feveral  Diftridls  ot  Territory,  as  the  late 
Colonies  of  the  Majfachufets  and  New  Plymouth^  the  Pro- 
vince of  Main^  the  Country  called  Sagadehoc  and  King's 
County,  being  all  the  Lands  between  the  Province  of 
Main^  and  the  River  St.  Croix^  which  is  the  weftern  Boun- 
dary of  Nova  Scotia  ;  New  Hampjhire  is  a  fmall  Province, 
having  little  more  than  twenty  Miles  of  Sea  Coaft,  and 
fpreads  its  JurifdiAion,  by  a  late  Refolution  of  his  Majefly 
in  Council,  on  the  Back  of  the  Majfachufets  Province, 
as  far  as  the  Englijh  Claim  extends  between  that  Province 
and  the  Province  of  Main ;  ConrieSiicuty  being  about  twen- 
ty Leagues  fquare,  is  bounded  by  the  Sea  on  the  South, 
New-Tork  on  the  Weft,  the  Majfachufets  on  the  North, 
and  Rhode- JJland  on  the  Eaft  ;  Rhode  Ifland  being  the 
fmalleft  of  the  four  in  Extent,  is  bounded  foutherly  by 
the  Sea,  and  is  furrounded  by  the  Majfachufets  and  Co«- 
ne^icut  on  its  other  Sides. 

NOVA  scot  14  extends  from  North  to  South a- 
bout  one  hundred  and  twenty  Leagues,  and  from  Eaft  to 
Weft  about  one  hundred^  comprehending  all  the  Land  be- 
tween Cape  Sable  and  Canfo  on  the  South-  Eaft,  and  the  Ri- 
ver of  St.  Lawrence  on  the  North- Weft  %  and  befides  its 
being  equally  commodious  with  Newfoundland  xov  the  Fifh- 
ery,  its  Harbours  are  fo  numerous  and  fine,  as  not  to  be 
exceeded  in  any  Part  of  the  World.  Ir  abounds  with  Sal- 
mon, Trout,  Eels,  and  feveral  other  Sorts  of  frelh- water 
Filh,  a  great  Plenty  of  wild  Fowl  of  different  Sorts,  its 
Woods  are  ftock*d  with  Deer,  Rabbits,  and  an  uncommon 
Variety  of  furr'd  Animals :  Its  Soil  is  very  fertile,  produ- 
ing  all  Kinds  ot  Grain  and  Provifions :  The  Country  is  co- 
vered with  Afh,  Beech,  Elm,  Firs,  Maple,  Cedar,  and 
Pines  fit  for  Naval  Ufes,  and  abounds  with  Lime- Stones 
and  fine  Quarries  for  building. 

CAPE  B  R  ETO  iV  lying  a  little  to  the  Eaft  ward 
of  this  Tra6t,  is  neither  fo  fertile,  nor  fo  capable  of  Improve- 
ment, as  it  is  both  rocky,  cold  and  barren,  abounding  neither 

with 


] 


f 


;  tl  V 


(   19   ) 

With  Furrs,  nor  Timber  for  building  of  Ships,  its  principal* 
if  not  only  Advantages  confifting  in  its  Situation,  Harbours* 
which  arc  in  the  Center  of  all  the  Fifhing-Banks  on  the 
North  American  Coafts. 

The  mand  of  NEfVFOUNDLAND  lies  between  the 
4$/i&  and  52^  Degree  of  North  Latitude,  and  is  about 
three  hundred  MiKs  in  Length,  and  near  as  broad,  is  fur- 
rounded  wich  Fi(hing-Bar<ks,  and  many  fine  Harbours, 
is  very  commodious  for  the  Fifhery,  having  every  Con- 
veniency  for  promoting  it,  and  by  its  Situation,  being 
the  moft  eafterly  Part  of  North  America,  has  the  Advan- 
tage of  all  other  Parts,  on  account  of  its  Nearnefs  to  the 
European  Markets,  but  it  is  not  likely  to  admit  of  any 
great  Improvements,  the  Climate  bwing  too  cold,  and  the 
Soil  but  indifferent. 

As  there  is  very  little  Difference  in  the  Temperature 
of  the  Air,  in  the  feveral  Parts  of  New- England,  fo  its 
feveral  Produfts,  and  Aptnefs  for  different  Improvements, 
vary  but  in  a  few  Particulars,  the  Southermoft  being  moft 
natural  for  Corn,  and  the  Northern  for  grazing,  and  afford 
a  much  greater  Plenty  of  Timber  and  Fiih. 

The  fVefi-lndia  Illands  are  farnifhed  from  hence  with 
Horfes,  and  feveral  Kinds  of  live  Stock  ;  Flower,  Bread, 
Peafe,  faked  Beef,  Pork,  Codfifli,  Mackrel,  Herrings, 
Cyder,  Butter,  Onions,  Oil,  Turpentine,  Ships,  Timber, 
Plank,  Boards,  Mafts  and  Yards,  Bricks,  Shingles,  Staves 
and  Hoops  •,  the  Southern  Colonies  wich  Rum,  Ships,  Deal- 
Boards,  Bricks  and  European  Goods ;  Newfoundland  with 
Rum,  Moloffes,  imported  Salt  for  the  Fiflitry,  and  all 
Sorts  of  Provifions;  Gr^at  Britain  and  the  reft  of  Europe 
with  Codfifh,  Ships,  Train  Oil,  Whalebone,  Deer-fkins, 
Peltry,  Staves,  Malls  and  Yards,  Pitch,  Tar,  Turpentine, 
raw  Hides,  Bees- Wax,  and  Bayberry  Wax,  the  Profit  of 
all  which  feveral  Branches  of  Bufinefs  finally  center  in  this 
Kingdom. 

In  thefe  Colonies,  the  Lands  which  are  already  cleared 
of  Timber,  and  improved  for  Tilhge  and  Failure,  are 
very  far  from  yielding  fuch  Profit  to  the  Owner,  as  they 

"  C  a  ati 


I 


C  io) 

are  capable  of,  For  Want  of  Manuring,  and  being  proper- 
ly fubdivided  into  fmaller  Allotments,  which  the  great 
Price  of  Labour  now  makes  impradlicable ;  but  as  Na- 
ture has  furniihed  the  Country  with  feveral  Sorts  of  Marie 
and  Sea- Ware,  whenever  the  Farmer  has  been  able  to 
enrich  the  Soil  with  them,  the  Produce  of  his  Lands  has 
paid  his  Expence,  and  greatly  raifed  their  Value,  yet  by 
Reafon  of  the  Scarcity  of  Labourers,  very  few  can  bear  the 
Charge  of  fo  necefTary  a  Cultivation  ■,  but  by  increaHng 
their  Number,  the^Country  may  foon  be  enabled  to  do  it, 
and  conf  quendy  to  fupply  the  Weft -India  IQands  at  a  much 
chcap-r  Rate  than  they  can  now. 

A  Number  of  Inhabitants  fettled  on  the  uncultivated 
Lands  in  Nova  Scotia^  would  not  be  able  to  furnifh  them- 
fclvcs  with  Provifions  for  the  firft  Year,  but  as  the  Coun- 
try is  full  of  fine  Harbours,  Lakes  and  Rivers^  the  Lands 
arc  covered  (as  wa?  before  obferved)  with  Timber,  and  the 
Sca-Coaft  plentifully  (locked  with  Fifh  and  wild  Fowl,  ic 
■will  foon  be  in  their  power  to  fupport  themfelves  *. 

It  will  be  of  great  Conlequence  to  the  firft  Setders  in 
this  Country,  that  in  clearing  and  fubduing  their  Lands, 
they  will  be  paid  for  their  Labour,  by  converting  the  Pro- 
duce into  Ship-Timbtr,  Planks,  Mafts,  Deal-Boards,  Shin- 
gles, Staves  and  Hoops,  all  which  may  be  carried  from  their 
Piintations  to  Market,  by  VelTels  that  will  fupply  them 
wieh  Horfes,  Cattle,  Swine,  and  other  Neceflaries,  toftock 
thir  improved  Lands. 

With  thefe  Advantages,  'tis  eafy  to  forefec  how  foon  it 
is  pradlible  to  bring  forward  new  Settlements  in  a  Country 
which  isfo  well  furniihed  with  Supplies,  and  is  fo  near  5<7/^ 
totiy  a  Market  that  will  always  take  off  their  Produce,  and 
enable  them  to  raife  their  Provifions,  to  build  their  Houfes, 
and  (luck  their  Plantations,  and  in  a  few  Years  to  export 

many 


V  n  N 


*  T;,e  Frtucb  Kfing  has  commonly  defrayed  ihe  Charge  of  tifanfport- 
ing  Ilia  .  uoj  .^^  co  Amtricn,  and  maintaining  them  a  Year  after  their 
A  ■  i>.)  ;  .nu  \\y:  Inte/eil  of  this  Kingdoni  never  called  for  i  Qior$  n^;; 

i/  Lruet.ce,  tAiin  tbaj  of  f?£liiiR  tin?  Prqvince  with  Prol^ftantt. 


;|te«iw 


'M 


N 


C  xO    . 

many  valuable  Gommodities  in  Veflels  oF  their  own,  whilft 
they  are  promoting  the  Trade  of  their  Country. 

From  what  has  been  U'ld  it  will  appear,  that  if  New- 
England  and  Nova  Scotia  were  fully  inhabited,  and  the 
Lands  brought  under  Improvement,  they  would  be  able 
to  furnilh  the  IVeft^  Indies  with  Provifions,  and  other  Sup- 
ples in  larger  Quantities,  than  they  are  capable  of  export- 
ing now,  and  their  Remittances  to  England  would  not 
only  become  more  confiderable,  but  cheaper  (o  the 
Merchant,  by  reducing  the  Price  of  Labour. 

The  Advantages  that  may  arife  to  this  Kingdom  from 
feveral  other  Improvements  in  the  Northern  Colonies^  when 
they  are  fully  inhabited,  is  worthy  of  a  particular  Atten- 
tion ;  the  Country  is  every  where  very  apt  to  produce  the 
very  beft  of  Flax,  and  in  many  Places  is  natural  for  Hemp, 
both  which  are  Articles  of  very  great  Confequence  lo  this 
Kingdom,  as  the  Manufu6lure  of  Linnen-Cloth  within  it, 
bears  but  a  fmall  Proportion  to  its  Confumption.  It  would 
foon  become  very  confiderable,  and  lefTen  the  great  Im- 
portation of  Linnens  from  Germany^  Holland,  &c.  and  the 
laft  brought  home  to  be  wought  up  into  Cordage  and 
Canvas. 

The  great  Plenty  of  Iron  Ore  in  many  Parts  of  the 
Country,  will  enable  them  not  only  to  ftpply  this  King- 
dom with  vaft  Quantities  of  Pijg  Iron,  but  Iron  in  Bars, 
cheaper  and  equal  in  Goodnefs  to  the  beft  Spantjh  or  Swede's 
Iron,  which  laft,  according  to  a  late  Calculation,  draws  a- 
bove  two  hundred  thou/and  Pounds  yearly  from  the  King- 
dom in  Money,  and  *tis  well  known  that  if  Labour  was 
reduced  a  quarter  Part  in  New  England,  they  could  fur- 
nifh  a  Quantity  equal  in  Value  to  that  Sum  cheaper  than 
'tis  no\y  imported,  and  receive  their  Returns  in  Britijb 
Goods. 

And  laftly,  it  will  enable  them  to  fecure  the  Cod-fi(hery 
CO  this  Kingdom,  by  making  it  more  beneficial  and  tx- 
Cenfive  than  it  ever  has  been,  as  the  Proceeds  of  their 
Voyages  will  be  remitted  to  England  in  Cafh,  and  the  De- 
mand for  frefh  Supplies  of  its  Commodities  will  be  encreaf- 
f  d,  Hnd  its  Bneft  >[urfery  for  Seamen  enlarged.         There 


^■|||8fe«ni§ 


iWi»»-.-«  i+.t* 


IH 


(  ^^  ) 

There  is  one  Article  which  has  excited  the  Tcalcufy  of 
this  Nation  more  than  all  the  Improvements  the  O.Iomcs 
are  capable  ot  profecuting,  and  that  is,  the  raifing  of  Wool, 
and  as  this  has  never  been  properly  reprefented,  I  conciude 
it  may  be  acceptable  now  ;  tht  Inhabitants  of  New-  England 
and  New  Tork  are  fuppofed  to  confume  one  with  another 
thirty  Shillings  Sterling  yearly  in  Britijh  Minufaftures,  two 
Thirds  of  which  confift  of  Woollens,  and  according  to 
Mr.  London*^  Pamphlet,  in  proportion  to  their  Numbers 
is  equal  to  the  Confumption  within  this  Kingdom  ;  It 
will  appear  from  his  Calculations,  chat  five  hundred  tboU' 
/and  Packs  of  Wool  weighing  two  hundred  and  forty  Pounds 
Weight  each,  are  yearly  wrought  up  in  Great -Britain, 
amounting  to  twenty-one  Millions^  of  which  more  than  one 
half  being  exported,  the  Number  of  Inhabitans,  at  twen- 
ty Shillings  each  Perfon,  exceeds  the  Value  of  the  Remain- 
der; This  may  be  eafily  demonftrated,  by  comparing  the 
Number  of  People  in  thefe  Colonies^  amounting  to  four 
hundred  tboufand,  to  the  Value  of  their  Briti/h  Importati- 
ons, which  is  above  fix  hundred  thoufand  Pounds  yearly, 
from  whence  it  follows,  that  they  annually  confume  more 
Woollen  Cloaths  than  an  equal  Number  of  Inhabitants  in 
this  Kingdom  •,  but  as  they  arc  known  to  raife  Wool  in 
New-England^  it  will  bs  a  Queftion,  what  becomes  of  it  ? 
to  which  it  may  be  anfwered,  that  the  Winter  Seafon  be- 
ing commonly  longer,  and  feverer  than  it  is  here,  the  In- 
habitants require  more  Cloaths  in  proportion,  which  may 
be  eftimated  at  a  fixth  Part ;  betides  their  ufual  Employ- 
ments being  very  different  from  thofe  of  fedentary  Arti- 
ficers, and  indoors  Manufacturers,  may  well  be  fuo/u  r:l 
to  enlarge  their  Confumption. 

It  will  appear  from  the  foregoing  Computation,  that  thefe 
Colonies  produce  about  two  thoujand  Packs  of  Wool  annu- 
ally, which  is  four  hundred  and  ninety-nine  lefs  in  Proporti- 
on to  the  Inhai.  ^ants,  than  grows  in  Great  Britain.  This 
Account  ma^  tru,  nnore  eafily  be  credited,  by  comparing  it 
wirh  the  Number  cl  Sheep  flaughtered  in  the  Courfeof  each 
Year,  obferving,  t,hat  as  they  ar^  fmall^  th^ir  Flecc:es  do  not 

wei^ 


I 

I 


l^-,r?— ^^^^;^ 


■  igrw*«Tfi»i(B 


Icufy  of 
Colonics 
ir  Wool, 
:onci«ide 
England 
another 
res,  two 
-iing  to 
Fumberi 
)m  ;  It 
^d  tboU' 
Pounds 
Britain^ 
lan  one 
t  iweH" 
Remain- 
ing the 
to  four 
portati- 
lycarly, 
;  more 
ants  in 
bol  in 

of  it  ? 
}n  be- 
:he  In- 
may 
iploy- 

Arti- 

thefe 
annu- 
porti- 

This 
mgit 

each 
onot 


(»3) 

vireigh  above  two  Pounds  one  with  another.    But  it  may 
ferve  more  efFeftually  to  remo  '«  all  Apprehenfions  of  the 
Cclonies  being  ever  able  to  prejudice  this   Nation  in  the 
"Woollen  Manufacture,  to  obii^rve,  that  their  Sheep  are  not 
only  liable  to  various  Diftempefs,  but  are  (hort-liv*  \  and 
their  Wool  is  of  a  very  coarfe  Staple  j  for  when  the  Win- 
ters from  Year  to  Year  admit  of  little  or  no  Variation,  they 
are  frequently  fubjeft  to  a  cutaneous  Dilbrdet-,  which  being 
re'Vw'Med  wth  every  Spring,  caufes  an  Itching  that  fcldom 
Icivf  s  them  till  they  wear  off  their  Fleeces  by  frequentlr 
riib 'i-ig  themfelves  againft  every  thing  that  prefents  itfelf 
to  View,  and  when  the  Weather  proves  dry,  and  hottef 
than  common,  they  tear  their  Skins  as  well  as  Coats,  and 
are  foon  Fly-blown,  rotten,  and  deftroyed  \  this  has  often 
proved  fo  contagious  as  to  end  in  the  De(lru6lion  of  half  he 
Sheep  in  the  Country  ;  and  when  the  Winter  has  been  lon- 
ger than  ufual,  'tis  a  great  Doubt  whether  their  LofTes  don't 
exceed  their  Increafe ;  for  it  has  twice  happened  withia 
twenty  Years,  that  a  third  Part  of  all  their  Stock  has  been 
carried  oiFby  the  extreme  Severity  of  the  Weather. 

It  is  uncommon  to  eat  any  Mutton  in  the  Country  of 
more  than  three  Years  Growth,  from  whence  it  follows, 
that  inftead  of  (laughtering  one  fifth  of  their  Stock  yearly, 
as  is  computed  to  be  the  Cafe  here,  they  confume  a  third 
Part,  and  their  Fleeces  falling  fliort  one  half  in  fVeigbt^ 
they  muft  neceffarily  raife  four  times  the  Number  of  Sheep 
to  produce  an  equal  Quantity  of  Wool ;  but  the  Coarfneis 
of  us  Staple,  which  exceeds  that  of  French  Wool,  puts  it 
out  of  their  Power  to  fabricate  fine  Cloaths  *,  and  its  Short- 
nefs  renders  it  of  little  Ufe  but  to  be  wrought  into  Stockings, 
and  an  ordinary  Cloth  which  is  more  expenfive,  and  lefs 
durable,  than  a  much  finer  imported  from  hence. 

It  is  evident  from  the  preceding  Account,  that  'tis  the 
Profit  of  their  Mutton,  rather  than  their  Fleeces,  that  indu- 
ces them  to  fiife  any  Sheep  at  ail :  Whenever  their  Lands 
have  been  enriched  by  Manuring,  they  find  that  the  raifing 
of  Beef,  Pork  and  Corn,  which  are  Articles  of  Exportation, 
as  well  as  Home  Confumption,  is  of  greater  Advantage  \  for 

the 


I 


C*4) 

the  whole  Bufinefs  of  Hufbindry  and  heavy  Carriages  be- 
ing performed  by  Oxen,  inftead  of  Horfes,  the  former  are 
doubly  ufeful,  and  after  a  long  Courf^;  of  Servitude,  by  two 
Years  Idlenefs  and  fattening,  produce  Beef  that  would  cre- 
dit the  Stalls  in  Leaden-Hall  Market. 

The  Increafe  of  Inhabitants  in  thefe  Colonies  will  then  ap- 
pear lo  far  from  being  injurious  to  the  Wollen  Manufa6lury 
here,  that  it  will  contribute  more  to  promote  it,  fupply  ing  an 
equal  Number  of  People  in  any  other  Part  of  the  Brittjh 
Dominions ;  but  if  it  fhould  ever  be  other  ways,  it  will  pro- 
ceed from  Neceflity,  rather  than  Choice  •,  for  if  they  are  pi^o- 
perly  encouraged  in  raifmg  of  Hemp,  Flax,  Iron,  and  other 
rough  Materials  by  a  fuitable  Bounty,  and  in  thofe  Branches 
of  Trade  and  Navigation  which  are  not  prejudicial  to  the 
general  Intereft  of  the  Kingdom,  their  Advantages  would 
be  infinitely  greater,  and  their  Labour  lefs,  than  if  they  pro- 
fecuted  the  Wollen  Manufaftury  :  But  if  on  the  contrary^ 
thefe  feveral  Articles  are  totally  negleded,  they  will  be  ren- 
dered incapable  of  making  Remittar.ces  fufHcient  to  pay 
for  Britilh  Cloaths,  and  muft  ot  Courfe  manufadlure  the  beft 
they  can  tor  themfelves. 

The  general  Advantages  that  will  arife  from  fortifying 
and  fettling  Nova  Scotia,  are  to  be  confidered  as  they  regard 
the  Views  of  France,  as  well  as  Great  Britain. 

The  French  have  artfully  laboured  to  make  the  mod  of 
the  Nova  Scotiam,  ever  fince  their  Subjrdlion  to  the  Britijh 
Crown  ;  they  havenotonly  fccured  to  them  the  Enjoyment 
of  their  Religion  and  Eftates,  but  take  care  to  furnilh  them 
with  Priefts,  who  teach  them  to  believe  from  their  Infancy, 
that  they  are  the  Subjects  ot  France,  and  they  have  always 
been  equally  ufeful  to  them  ;  betore  thf  prefent  War,  they 
not  only  fupplied  the  French  at  Louijhurg  with  Provifions, 
but  with  Wives,  and  were  very  ferviccable  to  them  in  their 
Fifhery,  in  piloting  their  VefTds,  and  afllfting  t.iem  in 
theirFornficationSi  and  fince  its  Reduftion,  have  all  con- 
tribured  tofipport,  and  many  of  them  have  adually  joined 
a  Buoy  of  French  and  Indians^  in  order,  if  poffible,  CO  get 
Poilcfiijon  Qf  Annapolis  RoyaU 

The 


% 


f 


I 


•3^**»i*ir<*^ 


;es  be- 
er are 
y  two 
d  cre- 

sn  ap- 
aftury 
ingan 
Britijh 
11  pro- 
re  pi'O- 
d  Other 
anches 
to  the 
would 
;y  pro- 
ntrary> 
be  ren- 
to  pay 
he  bed 

tifying 
regard 

noft  oF 
Britijh 
^yment 
hthem 
nfancy, 
always 
ir,  they 
vifions, 
in  their 
lem  in 
all  con- 
y  joined 
CO  get 

The 


m 


The  Zeal  and  Attachment  of  thefe  Nova  Scotians  to  the 
Romijh  Faithj  will  always  prevent  the  Seitltment  of  Pro* 
tenants  in  the  Country,  unlefs  it  be  done  in  cortipadl  Bo- 
dies, and  under  the  Cover  of  Fortifications ;  but  till  this 
is  accomplilhed,  it  can  no  more  be  faid  that  the  Province 
belongs  to  the  Crown  of  Great  Britain^  becaufe  it  is  poffef- 
fed  of  Annapolis  Royals  than  of  the  Kingdom  of  Spainy  from 
our  Poflfeffion  of  Gibralter. 

It  is  therefore  abfolutely  ncceffary  for  the  Sifety  and 
Intereft  of  the  Northern  Colonies,  that  fome  fpeedy,  and 
efFeftual  Meafures  are  taken,  to  put  thefe  Nova  Scotians 
on  a  different  Footing,  or  to  remove  them  ;  the  laft  can- 
not well  be  done,  and  the  firft  in  nothing  better  than  by 
encouraging  a  confiderable  Number  of  foreign  Protcftants, 
and  others,  to  fettle  amondft  them. 

This  will  not  only  be  of  immediate  Service,  but  in  a 
few  Years  will  produce  various  good  Effedls,  as  the  Coun- 
try  abounds  with  Pines  and   Firs,  it  will  be  capable  of 
fupplying  this  Kingdom  with  the  fineft  Deal-Boards  and 
Timber  of  all  Kinds,  in  VefTels  of  its  own,  which  are  now- 
imported  from  Norway,  the  Baltic^  &c.  in  foreign  Bottoms, 
and  drains  the  Nation  of  immv-nfe  Sums  of  Money  ;  this 
is  not  only  prafticable  on  the  firft  Settlement  of  the  Ccun- 
try,  but  in  the  Courfe  of  a  few  Years  will  become  a  fteady 
and  ufeful  Branch  of  BuHnefs  :  But  if  none  of  thefe  good 
Confequences  enfue,  yet  fettling  the  Province  with  Protef- 
tants  is  of  the  greateft  Importance,  as  the  French  w'lW  other- 
wife  continue  tocherilh  the  prtfenr  Inhabitants,  till  they  ex- 
ceed the  Number,  and  are  ot  more  Confcquence  than  rhcfe 
of  Canada^  and  it  requires  no  long  Time  to  efFc;6t  this, 
in  a  Country  whofc  Inhabitants  are  not  only  very  health- 
ful, but  very  prolific ;  it  mud  furelv   be  deemed  impoli- 
tic then  to  fuffer  Tuch  a  Colony  ot  French  B  gots  to  be  rear- 
ed up  under  the  kindly  L  fluencesof  a  Britijh  Adminiftra- 
tion,  to  cut  our  own  People's  Throats  whenever  the  Prieji 
ihall  confecrate  the  Knite  *,  notwithftanding  they   hardly 
know  the  Name  of  a  Tax  or  Duty,  iheir  ^it  Rent  b^ing 
but  a  Trifle,  and  thofe  who  arc  at  a  great  Diftance  from 

D  /Inmi^olts 


11 

i  i 

•'  i 


•I  I 


Hill 


hi  ; 


n 


(i<5) 

Anfiapolis^  have  feldom  paid  any ;  in  the  mean  time,  they 
have  on  all  Occafiorxs  manifefted  a  Contempt  of  the  Bri' 
iijh  Government  when  they  could  do  it  with  Impunity, 
or  were  too  remote  from  that  Garrifon  to  fend  their  Re- 
fentment. 

Ic  therefore  highly  concerns  this  Kingdom,  that  fomc 
feafonable  Steps  be  taken  to  prevent  their  future  Growth. 
and  Defeftion ;  but  it  is  very  diffi:ult  to  attempt,  ana 
almoft  impoffible  to  efFe£l:  their  Removal,  without  Blood- 
fhed,  and  if  they  were  difpoflfcfTed,  they  would  be  a  very 
great  additional  Strength  to  Canada  and  Cape  Breton^  as 
we  could  not  prevent  their  fettling  in  thofe  Places. 

It  feems  then  more  eligible  to  continue  them  in  the 
Country,  to  permit  them  to  hold  fuch  Lands  as  are  under 
a6tual  Improvement,  and  to  which  they  can  make  out  a 
clear  Title,  for  'tis  beyond  Difpute  but  they  claim  much 
larger  Tradls  than  they  have  any  Right  to. 

Their  Eftates  are  held  by  Patent  from  the  French  King, 
for  which  they  pay  a  very  fmall  Acknowledgment,  their 
Right  was  referved  to  them  by  the  Articles  of  Capitulation 
at  the  Redudlion  of  Annapolis^  and  was  finally  ratified  by 
the  Treaty  of  Utrecht ;  but  as  no  civil  Government  has 
ever  been  eftablifhed  there,  they  have  no  more  to  do  with 
.their  new  Matters  than  to  pay  their  Quit- Rent,  which  in 
the  whole  Province  does  not  amount  to  forty  Pounds  a 
Year. 

When  the  Form  of  Government  was  eftablifhed,  which 
is  now  exerciled  there-,  the  Inftruflions  to  the  Governor 
and  Council  were  copied  from  thofe  of  Virginia^  whereby 
the  Power  of  granting  Lands  is  vetted  in  them,  and  is 
reftrided  to  fuch  Conditions,  as  have  hitherto  proved  a 
great  Difcouragement  to  his  Maj:?fty*s  Subjefls  -,  for  the 
Patentee  is  not  only  obliged  to  pay  a  Penny  Sterling  per 
Acre  for  the  whole,  but  is  fubjedl  to  a  Penny  more  when- 
ever the  Government  Ihall  demand  it,  and  unlefs  he  has 
built  a  Houfe,  and  brought  Part  of  his  Lands  under  Im- 
provement within  three  Years  from  the  Date  of  his  Grant, 
he  forfeits    his  Title :   This  attended  with  the  conftane 

Ob- 


a3 


C  i7  ) 

Obftruftions  which  both  the  French  *,  and  Indians  have 
miide  in  Prejudice  to  any  Proteftant  Settlements,  when 
compared  with  the  eafy  Terms  on  which  Lands  are  granted 
in  other  Parts  of  North  America^  evidently  accounts  for 
the  prefent  Situation  of  the  Province. 

Since  it  is  apparently  for  the  public  Intereft,  that  the 
growing  Sfate  of  thefe  Nova  Scotians  fhould  be  checked, 
that  they  (hould  either  be  rendered  ufeful,  or  prevented 
from  becoming  dangerous  to  the  other  Colonies,  it  cannot 
more  efFedually  be  done,  than  by  erefling  fuch  Fortifica- 
tions, as  will  keep  their  mod  populous  Towns  in  Subjt^i- 
on,  and  at  the  lame  time  fervc  as  a  Proteftion  to  the  pro- 
poied  Settlements  in  the  Province ;  a  more  particular 
Defcriptioa  of  which  feems  neceflkry  in  order  to  carry  fo 
ufeful  a  Defign  into  Execution. 

ABOUf  feventeen  Leagues  North  from  Cape  Sahle^  the 
Entrance  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy  commences,  where  it  is  about 
twenty  Leagues  wide,  and  extending  near  forty  Leagues, 
divides  itfell  into  two  Branches,  one  of  which  terminates  in 
feveral  Rivers,  that  difcharge  ihemlelves  into  Minas  Bay, 
and  the  other  running  more  Northerly  to  Chigne^fo^  forms 
an  Ijihtnus  of  that  Name  between  this  Branch  and  the  Bay 
of  Vert,  which  empties  itfelf  into  ihe  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence, 

Twelve  Leagues  from  the  aforefaid  Entrance  on  the 
South  Side  of  the  Biy,  lies  the  Gut  of  Annapolis,  which  is 
about  three  Quarters  of  a  Mile  wide,  and  a  Mile  and  an 
half  long,  on  each  Side  of  which  the  Land  is  very  moun- 
tainous and  rocky  ;  the  Tides  are  fo  impetuous,  as  often 
to  render  this  a  dangerous  Paflfage  for  large  Veffcls,  but 
when  they  are  once  in,  a  moft  delightful  Harbour  pre- 
fents  itfelf  to  View,  called  the  Bafon  of  Annapolis^  from 
the  gradual  Declivity  of  the  Lands  furrounding   ir,  being 

D  2         '  about 


*  It  has  always  been  found  impraflicable  to  kitle  here,  withcut 
entering  into  a  Coateft  with  the  Frtnch,  who  either  have  a  real,  or 
trump  up  an  imaginery  Title  to  the  iamc  Spot;  and  if  that  fails,  tie 
Indiant  are  fure  to  challenge  the  Property  as  Lord}  of  the  who'e.  And 
indeed  'tis  diflkuU  to  determice  what  Ri^ht  the  prefent  Inhabitancy 
Hv9,  01  how  cxt^rJivc  is  is,  withpui  &  ff  cgial  Enquiry  and  Surv?/* 


I, 

iiiH 

f  i 


! 


I>        I 
ill      • 

in 

I'M 
1 1*  > 


f   ! 


hi  'i ' 

r 


(  i8  ) 

about  /I>r^tf  Leagues  in  Length  from  North  Eafl;  to  South 
Weft,  and  two  in  Width,  with  fafe  and  commodious  An- 
chorage in  moft  Parts  of  it  for  all  the  Ships  in  England  \ 
on  its  South  Side  are  two  fmall  -River?  of  little  Confe- 
qaence,  and  the  Land  is  mountainous  and  rocky  ;  on  the 
North-Ertft  Side  a  little  Iflmd  forms  the  Entrance  of  Att" 
mpolis'  River,  which  continues  navigable  for  large  Veffels 
on  that  Courfe  about  ten  Leagues. 

At  the  Month  of  this  River  are  feveral  fmall  French 
Villages,  from  whence  'tis  about  two  fhort  Leagues  to  An- 
fiapolis  Royaly  which  (lands  upon  a  Point  of  Land,  formed 
by  this  and  another  fmall  River  that  ranges  about  South 
Eaft :  The  Situation  of  this  Fortrefs  being  elevated  ftxty 
or  feventy  Feet  above  the  Level  of  the  River,  and  ftand- 
ing  on  its  Bank,  renders  an  Attack  from  Ships  almoft 
imprafticable,  for  the  Strength  of  the  Tides  makes  it  very 
difficult  for  them  to  moor,  unlefs  it  be  in  the  Eddy  or 
Counter  tide,  which  brings  them  too  near  the  Shore  to  do 
any  Execution. 

As  it  is  fituate  on  a  Level  with  the  Campain,  there  is 
nothing  to  prevent  the  regular  Approaches  of  an  Enemy 
on  two  Sides  of  the  Garrifjn  ;  it  is  mounted  with  a  about 
forty  Cannon  on  four  Badions^  and  has  a  Battery  to  com- 
mand the  River ;  its  Ramparts  are  of  Earth,  covered  with 
large  Stocks  of  Timber  towards  the  Fojfg ;  and  it  might 
make  a  good  Defence,  were  its  Powder  Magazine  Bomb 
proof,  which  is  doubted  5  and  as  feveral  of  the  other  Ma- 
^aztfies  and  Barrach  are  built  of  Timber,  its  Garrifon 
might  eafily  b:-  burnt  out  :  'Tis  defended  by  about  one 
hundred  and  thirty  Men,  exclufivc  of  the  New  England 
Auxiliaries,  who,  in  the  Couife  of  two  or  three  Years, 
have,  in  a  manner,  rebuilt  the  Fort,  under  the  Direction 
of  the  Engineer*,  Upon  both  Sides  of  this  River,  feveral 
pleafant  Villages  are  fcattered  for  thirty  Miles,  containing 
^bout  three  hundred  Families,  who  being  aw*d  by  the  Gar- 
rifon are  the  moil,  if  not  the  only  tradable  Inhabitants 
ip  the  province,  Qq 


MpiRpaMi 


*  Mr.  Co'ia/le^, 


:ttmm 


ftxty 


^ 


(19) 

On  the  South  Eaft  Side  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy  about  thirty 
Leagues  from  the  Entrance  of  Annapolis^  is  the  Bay  of 
Minas^  a  Name  derived  from  the  Report  of  fome  valua- 
ble Mines  having  been  difcovered  in  its  Neighbourhood, 
being  twelve  Leagues  long,  and  about  three  in  Width,  in- 
to which  the  Rivers  Canard^  Caobegat,  Pffegat,  and  fome 
others  difcharge  themfelves. 

On  the  other  Branch,  and  at  the  Head  of  the  Bay,  are 
feveral  Villages,  and  about  three  Leagues  up  a  narrow 
and  deep  River  (lands  the  Town  of  Chigne^o,  or  Chignec* 
ticoy  a  Corruption,  as  it  is  faid  from  Le  Chignon  du  Col% 
here  are  about  two  hundred  Families,  the  Country  is  very 
healthy  and  pleafant,  furrounded  with  fine  Meadows,  which 
on  its  Weft  Side  are  more  cxtenfive  than  any  thing  of  the 
Kind  in  this  Part  of  the  World,  and  abounds  with  Rivers, 
that  at  High  water  are  navigable  for  large  VefTcls ;  to  the 
Northward  of  this  Place,  runs  the  moft  rapid,  and  the 
longeft  Branch  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy^  about  North  North 
Eaft  into  the  main  Land  which  ihe  French  now  call  Gafpa^ 
Cia^  on  which  are  fome  fmall  Villages,  but  by  reafon  of 
Che  Badnefs  of  its  Navigation,  they  are  very  little  known ; 
on  the  North  Side  of  the  Bay,  about  eight  Leagues  below 
Chigne^o,  and  upon  a  navigable  River,  lies  a  Village  cal- 
led Chipoteey  containing  about  fixty  or  feventy  l''amiliesi 
from  whence  for  near  forty  Leagues,  the  North  Shore  af- 
fords neither  Harbour  nor  River  that  is  navigable  for  large 
VelTels,  the  Sea  Coaft  being  very  mountainous,  and  fkirr* 
ed  with  Rocks  and  Precipices,  affords  a  difagreeable  Prof- 
peft  to  Navigators.  North  from  the  Entry  of  Annapolis 
lies  the  fine  River  of  St.  John^  with  a  capacious  Road  for 
Ships  at  its  Entrance ;  on  the  North  Side  of  which  is  a 
narrow  Streight,  not  a  Piftol  Shot  over,  thro'  which  there 
is  no  pafling  but  at  the  Top  of  the  Tide,  when  the  Wa- 
ter is  upon  a  Level,  at  other  Times  the  Fall  is  io  con- 
fiderable,  efpecially  at  low  Water,  as  to  make  a  Dtfcent 
of  near  thirty  Feet,  being  lined  on  both  Sides  by  a  fLlid 

Fathom  of  Water  \t\ 


'ing  more 


forty 


\\%  Middles  this  River  fpreads  itfelf  about  half  a  Mils 


in 


Mfcw»«*^.. 


W' 


ii    ! 


!  ! 


m 


.1  li( 


(30) 

in  Width,  and  with  a  gentle  Current  towards  its  Outlet 
admits  of  a  delightful  Navigation  for  large  Ships  fifty  or 
ftxty  Miles  into  the  Country,  and  much  farther  for  fmall 
Veflelsi  from  its  feveral  Branches  the  Indians  traverfe  this 
Part  of  the  Continent,  by  tranfporiing  their  Canoes  by  Land 
acrofs  fome  Ihort  Spaces,  called  by  them  Carrying  Places ; 
Here  are  no  more  than  three  or  four  French  Families,  the 
Forces  from  New-England  having  deftroyed  all  their  Set- 
tlements in  the  lad  War,  moft  of  the  Inhabitants  removed 
to  the  other  Side  of  the  Bay ;  a  few  Leagues  further  Weft- 
ward  are  feveral  fine  Harbours,  amongft  which  is  Har- 
bour I'Etangj  fo  called  from  its  Refemblance  of  a  Pond, 
as  it  is  furrounded  with  Highlands,  its  Entry  being  deep, 
narrow,  and  free  from  Danger,  and  its  Surface  alwa-js  un- 
ruffled 5  this  is  near  the  River  St.  Croix,  the  Weftcra 
Boundary  of  the  Province,  from  whence  to  New  Hamp" 
Jhiret  the  Sea  Coaft  is  covered  wiih  Iflands  that  almoft 
form  a  continued  Harbour  for  near  two  hundred  Miles. 

From  the  Entrance  into  the  Bay  of  Fundy  to  Cape 
Sable,  there  are  feveral  fine  Rivers  and  Harhours,  and  two 
fmall  Villages ;  from  Cape  Sable,  fo  called  froni  the  Sand 
Binks  on  its  Shore,  to  Canfo,  the  Iflands  and  Harbours  are 
fo  numerous  as  not  to  admit  of  either  Defcription  or  nam- 
ing, the  moft  confiderable  of  which  are  ChebuSio,  Male- 
gajh.  Port  RoJfignoU  Port  Mutton,  Port  le  Have,  Port  Ro' 
zoir,  Lifcombes  Harbour,  &c.  and  Canfo,  which  at  prefent 
fcrve  only  as  a  Retreat  to  fifliing  Veffels,  and  others  in 
b;id  Weather,  or  to  wood  and  water;  a  few  ftragling  Sava- 
ges, who  Ihift  their  Habitations  as  the  Seafons  for  Filhing 
and  Hunting  vary,  are  the  only  Inhabitants  on  this  exten- 
iive  Coaft,  except  a  French  Settlement  at  Malegaflj., 

From  Canjb,  a  navigable  Streight,  called  from  it  the  Gut 
^f  Canfo,  fevers  the  Ifland  of  Cape  Breton  from  the  Conti* 
nent,  and  leads  into  the  Bay  of  St.  Lawrence,  on  the  South- 
Weft  Side  of  which  is  Tatamagauche  a  very  good  Har- 
bour, where  the  French  formerly  received  their  Supplies  of 
Cattle  and  Provifions  from  the  Nova  Scotians  tor  Loutf- 
hurgi  and  it  is  one  of  the  f^feft  and  ftorteft  Cpmwunicati- 


4 


fo 
Pi 

1; 


(3') 

Ons  they  can  hsve  with  thefe  Inhabitants  i  F^om  lience  at- 
bouc  ten  Leagues  North- Weft,  lies  the  Bay  of  f^ert  be«^ 
fore- mentioned,  on  which,  and  all  the  Eaftern  Side  of  the 
Province,  as  far  as  the  Mouth  of  Canada  River,  lie  a 
ftreat  Variety  of  fine  Rivers  and  Hirbours  very  little 
known  to  us,  as  no  Perfon  has  ever  been  employed  by  the 
Government  to  attempt  a  particular  Difcovery  of  them. 

From  this  Defcription  of  the  Country,  feveral  Placet 
will  appear  neceiTary  to  be  fortified,  of  which  I  fhall  en- 
deavour to  point  out  the  mod  convenient,  as  well  as  thofe 
which  are  moft  commodious  for  bringing  forward  the  pro* 
pofed  Settlements. 

Canfo  and  CbehuSio  on  the  Sea-Cqaft  of  this  Province, 
naturally  prefent  themfelves  firft  to  Confideration ;  the  for- 
mer from  its  having  been  a  long  Time  improved  in  the 
Filhery,  and  having  once  had  a  wooden  Blockhoufe,  and 
a  fmall  Detachment  of  Troops  for  its  Protection,  and  the 
latter  for  its  fpacious  and  fine  Harbour,  and  having  been 
the  Rendezvous  of  Duke  D*Jnville*s  Squadron. 

Canfi  is  conveniently  fituated  for  the  Cod  Fifhery,  but 
claims  the  Preference  to  the  other  on  no  account  but  its 
having  been  already  improved,  and  probably  fooner  known; 
But  this  laft  greatly  exceeds  the  former  in  feveral  R^fpeds^ 
viz.  its  Situation,  its  Harbour,  and  Aptnefs  for  Agricul- 
ture. 

Its  Situation  is  fuch,  that  it  has  a  fhort  and  eafy  Com- 
munication by  Land  with  all  the  Settlements  on  the  Bay 
of  Fundy^  is  equally  commodious  for  the  Filhery  with  Can- 
foy  and  is  more  in  the  Way  of  all  Ships  pafTing  to  and  from 
Europe  to  ^ew  England  that  may  occafionally,  or  by  Strefs 
of  Weather  feek  a  Port  for  Shelter,  or  Relief. 

Its  Harbour  gives  place  to  none  in  the  World,  and  by 
its  natural  Form,  and  an  Ifland  at  its  Entrance,  is  capable 
of  being  well  defended  by  a  regular  Fortification. 

Its  Soil  exceeds  that  of  Canfo,  and  by  the  Vicinity  of 
feveral  fine  Harbours,  will  afford  great  Conveniences  to  the 
firtl  Inhabif:ants  \  thefe  feveral  Advantages  it  boafts  beyond 
any  other  Place  on  t^\%  Side  of  th^  Country  >  whereas 

Canjo^ 


■-if 


;ffl 


;i  '■ 


i  I 


I 


(?0 

Canfi,  though  poffeflTed  for  thirty-five  Years,  could  fkeW 
no  Improvements  but  on  fome  (mall  Idands,  which  pro- 
duced little  m.ore  than  a  few  Kitchen  Gardens ;  its  Har- 
bour is  complained  of  as  not  well  defended  from  hard 
Gales  of  Wind,  has  a  very  rocky  and  difficult  Entrance, 
and  the  Communication  from  hence  to  the  Inland  Parts 
of  the  Province  is  through  CbehuSlo^  or  ^atamagoucbe.  This 
laft  Place  feems  alfo  to  claim  fome  Share  of  Attention, 
and  may  probably  upon  a  critical  Survey,  be  found  fuita- 
ble  for  a  Settlement,  and  to  merit  fuch  a  FortiBcation  as 
may  cut  off  all  future  Supplies  to  Louijbourg  by  this 
Channel. 

Leaving  this  Side,  and  the  Sea  Coaft  of  the  Province,  I 
Ihall  return  to  the  Bay  of  Fundy  again,  where  the  Soil, 
and  Manner  of  improving  Lands  differs  from  all  other 
Parts  of  North  America^  and  where  two  or  three  different 
Fortreflfes  will  be  necelTary  to  awe  the  French  and  Indians^ 
and  to  protect  rhe  propofed  Settlements  from  their 
Infulcs. 

In  all  Parts  of  this  Bay  the  Rivers  are  of  great  Length, 
and  very  numerous  *,  the  Ebbing  and  Flowing  of  the- 
Tides  is  from  four  Fathom  at  the  Entrance,  to  ten  or  eleven 
at  the  Head  of  its  longefl  Branches  *,  between  their  Banks, 
and  the  Verge  of  the  Upland,  are  fine  and  large  Tradts  of 
Salt  Mar(h,  in  many  Places  extending  themfelves  on  a 
Plain  for  thirty  or  forty  Miles  without  Interruption :  In 
the  Bays  of  Minas,  ChegneSio^  and  their  feveral  Branches, 
are  Millions  of  Acres  that  were  "never  yet  improved  ;  the 
French,  in  order  to  fave  themfelves  the  Labour  of  lubdu- 
ing  the  Lands  that  are  covered  with  Forefl  Wood,  and 
Interfperfed  with  MorafTes,  have  furrounded  part  of  thefe 
Marfhes  with  Dykes*,  without  which  they  would  often 
be  flowed  at  high  Water,  and  always  by  Spring  Tides  j 
they  are  afterwards  ploughed  up,  and  in  three  Years  pro- 
duce all  Kinds  of  Grain,  and  when  fallow*d  run  into  fine 

Grafs. 


i\ 


«  This  Term  by  Cuftom  is  applicable  to  the  Bank  U  WCH  M  the 
Duch,  and  is  alwa/s  ufcd  for  both  in  iViv/i  S(9titt, 


t 


(35) 

Grafs.  This  Land,  by  Reafon  of  its  natural  Richnefj; 
requires  very  little  manuring,  and  is  not  only  eafy  of  Til- 
lage, but  affords  a  beautiful  Profpedi:  *,  their  Gardens,  with 
fome  Patches  for  particular  Ufes,  being  all  the  Uplaod 
they  have  under  Improvement. 

It  is  obvious  from  this  Account,  which  is  far  from  be- 
ing exaggerated,  that  no  Country  is  better  calculated  t6 
yield  an  early  Support  to  its  infant  Colonies,  with  more 
Certainty  and  lefs  Labour,  and  affording  them,  in  the  mean 
time,  a  comfortable  Subfiftance, 

The  Highlands  which  commonly  lie  near  the  Sea  Coafl:, 
and  the  Sides  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy^  are  rocky,  and  covered 
chiefly  with  Firs,  but  produce  Plenty  of  Grafs  when 
brought  under  Cultivation  •,  the  level  Country  is  covered 
with  feveral  other  Kinds  of  Wood  ufefUl  in  Building,  and 
when  fubdued  and  fitted  for  Tillage,  difcovers  a  fine  ricK 
Mold,  producing  all  Things  in  Perfeftion  that  are  natural 
to  the  Climate ;  and  this  will  ferve  for  a  general  Defcrip- 
tion  of  the  Province,  for  altho*  fome  Parts  of  the  Cape 
Sable  and  Canfo  Shores  are  rocky,  and  Unfit  for  Tillage, 
they  are  intermixed  with  valuable  Trafts  of  low  Lands, 
navigable  Rivers,  and  a  great  Number  of  Iflands,  where 
Fifh  may  be  taken  all  the  Year  round,  as  the  Harbours 
are  feldom  obftrufted  with  Ice. 

On  the  North  Side  of  this  Bay,  St,  John's  River  feems 
to  be  the  fittefl  Place  for  making  a  Settlement,  and  erect- 
ing a  Fortrefs;  about///)?  Miles  from  its  Entrance,  the 
mofl  judicious  and  confiderable,  tho'  not  the  mod  nume- 
rous Tribe  of  Indians  on  this  Part  of  the  Continent  are 
fettled,  and  in  the  laft  War  had  a  flight  Fortification 
erected  by  the  French  for  their  Defence. 

Here  the  Land  is  fertile,  and  lies  nearly  on  a  Level 
very  far  into  the  Country,  having  a  gradual  Declivity  on- 
ly towards  the  River,  that  ferves  to  diredt  the  Courfe  of 
feveral  large  Branches  into  its  Sides. 

By  the  Information  of  the  Natives^  the  inland  Parts  of 
this  Country  are  capable  of  the  fined  Improvements,  and 
although  here  is  but  a  Very  little  Marlli-Land,  the  Good- 

E  nefs 


i-^^^vi 


rr 


IT,  -        '\ 

'Si !      i 

'Si    ! 


I     ( 


.'•  I 


(34) 

nefs  ol'the  Soil  makes  ampl«  Amends  for  the  Want  oFit, 
and  here  are  no  Claims  of  any  Significancy  to  prevent  the 
Settlement  of  it. 

In  order  to  (hew  what  Places  within  the  Bay  of  Fundy 
are  mod  proper  to  be  fortified,  I  fhall  begin  with  this,  as 
it  is  not  only  a  very  valuable  Country,  but  is  commodi- 
oufly  (ituated  for  the  Fifhery  ;  from  hence  the  diredt  In- 
tercourfe  with  Canada  is  maintained  through  the  Country, 
and  continued  acrofs  the  Bay  to  AGnas  and  jlnnapolis^  from 
which  Places  it  is  not  more  than  twenty  Leagues  diftant. 

Within,  and  very  near  the  beforementioned  Streight, 
the  Land  feems  conveniently  elevated  for  eredting  a  For- 
crefs  that  will  command  the  Entrance,  and  in  time  of 
War,  a  Boom  Chain  would  efFedlually  fecure  the  PaiTage  3 
this  Place  might  not  only  ferve  to  proteft  Ships  in  the 
Road  below,  Isut  would  be  a  fufficient  Defence  to  a  new 
Settlement,  and  if  properly  garrifoned,  might  cut  off  the 
Correfpondence  between  Quebec  and  the  Nova  Scotians, 

The  Indians  of  the  St,  John's  Tribe  might  on  this  Oc- 
Gafion  attempt  to  interrupt  a  Settlement,  but  as  they  are 
in  a  State  of  Hoftility  with  us,  and  by  the  Treaty  of 
Utrecht  their  Lands  were  given  up  by  the  French  to  this 
Crown,  no  Peace  ought  to  be  concluded  with  them  but 
upon  our  own  Terms,  for  they  were  aftually  the  Ag- 
greffors,  by  joining  the  Enemy  in  the  Siege  of  Annapolis^ 
contrary  to  fevcral  Treaties  they  formerly  entered  into 
with  the  Province  of  the  Majfachufetts  Bay. 

From  this  Place  to  Chignetlo,  the  Country  has  but  two 
or  three  Harbours,  and  the  Sea  Coaft  being  very  mountain- 
ous, and  but  little  known,  I  can  only  aflert  what  the  Na- 
ives  fay  of  it,  that  the  inland  Parts  are  fertile. 

Chigne5io  forming  the  Peninfula,  which  the  Frdnch  call 
Accadie^  is  commonly  mentioned  as  a  necelTary  Place  to 
be  fortified,  in  order  to  cut  off  the  Communication  with 
Canada  in  time  of  War,  the  Ifthmus  not  being  here  a- 
bove  two  Leagues  wide ;  The  foregoing  Reafon  would 
have  more  weight,  if  the  French  tranfported  any  Baggage 
or  Train  with  them  on  thefi;  OccefioflSj  but  that  is  not 

pra^icabky 


be 
th 
na 
fit 
Ei 
th 
foi 

f; 

m 


nt  of  it, 
vent  Che 

f  Fundy 

this,  as 

mmodi- 

ea:  In- 

buntry, 

%  from 

diftant. 

treight, 

aFor- 

ime  of 

affage  3 

in  the 

a  new 

off  the 
tns, 
lis  Oc- 
cy  are 
;aty  of 
to  this 
tn  but 
B  Ag- 
tapoiis, 
d  into 

It  two 
incain- 

e  Na- 

b  caJI 
ice  to 
with 
re  a- 
vould 

Sgage 
;  not 


(  }S  ) 

pradicable,  and  therefore  they  commonly  crofs  the  Riven 
below  in  Canoes  with  their  fmall  Arms  and  Ammunition^ 
their  larger  Stores  being  landed  out  of  Veffels  from  Cfl- 
nada  at  'Tetamagauche.  Several  Places  here  feem  well 
fituated  for  ereSing  a  Fortrefs,  upon  one  of  which^  an 
Eminence  furrounded  with  Marfh,  and  commanding  both 
the  River  and  the  Town,  appears  to  be  the  moil  eligible 
for  that  Purpofe  *.  From  this  Place  by  Land  to  Caobe* 
sat  on  the  Bay  of  Minas  it  is  near  twenty  Leagues,  and 
Trom  thence  to  the  Town  of  that  Name  it  is  near  twenty 
more. 

MINAS  being  the  principal  Place  in  the  Province, 
and  the  Center  of  ail  its  Settlements,  requires  a  more  par- 
ticular Defcription. 

It  is  compofed  of  a  Number  of  Villages  and  Farm- 
houfes,  extending  fix  or  eight  Miles  in  Length,  and  in- 
cluding fome  Towns  a  little  more  remote,  contains  about 
a  tboufand  Families ;  I  don't  mean  fo  many  Houfekeepers, 
but  fuch  as  would  be  thus  denominated  among  the  Englijh^ 
for  here  it  is  cuftomary  when  one  of  a  Family  marries, 
to  enlarge  the  Manfion-houle,  and  by  the  Addition  of  new 
Apartments,  they  make  Room  for  the  expected  Proge- 
*  ny  i  from  this  Pradlice  *cis  common  to  find  three  ox  four 
Generations  under  one  Roof  ^  it  is  computed  that  they 
amount  to  about  feven  thoufand  People,*and  were  the  In- 
habitants induftrious  they  might  produce  immenfe  Quanti- 
ties of  Corn }  the  Soil  of  their  Marlbes  having  been  al- 
ways fubjedt  to  the  periodical  Overflowing  of  the  Spring 
Tides,  is  compofed  of  the  Fat  and  Slime  that  has  been 
wafhed  from  the  inland,  and  mountainous  Parts  of  the 
Country,  by  Rains,  and  the  melting  of  Snow  for  Ages 


E  2 


oafV, 


*  It  is  well  known  that  many  of  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Placs  have 
aftually  bore  Arms  in  Conjun£lion  with  the  Fnncb  and  hdiant^  and 
were  concluded  to  be  with  them  when  thejr  attacked  th«  Auxiliary 
Troops  at  Minas  in  the  Winter  1 746.  Monf.  Jonquitr  who  cow 
inandfid  the  Frtncb  Fleet  at  Chi&uSo  after  £)*^«rv(7//8  Death,  furniflied 
all  Perfons  in  the  Province  who  were  fit  for  Service,  with  Arms  9^4 
^moiiinition  ^q  afilil  him  in  Kk%  Redu^ion  of  Ltuijb:ur^^ 


1     ; 


!      i 


I.U 


ii  ! 


( 


I 

;    I 
i     I 


t 


i     i 


(30 

paft.  and  on  that  Account  admits  of  a  long  Improvement 
ivithouc  any  Manuring. 

Whenever  it  happens  that  any  of  their  Dykes  are  ca- 
fualiy  broke  down,  the  Overflowing  of  the  Tide  render^ 
the  Marfli  incapable  of  bearing  any  Corn  for  three  Years, 
but  afterwards,  by  Means  of  the  new  Recruit  of  Salts, 
ivhichare  incorporated  with  the  Mold,  the  Soil  is  renewed, 
and  produces  as  fine  Crops  as  ever  i  thus  Nature  feems  by 
Accident  to  have  pointed  out  a  Procefs,  whereby  its 
Fertility  is  reftored  without  any  Expence  to  the  Owner  : 
Thefe  Lands,  after  fome  Years  Improvement,  produce 
feveral  Kinds  of  Grafs,  and  ferve  ail  the  feveral  Ufes  of 
Hufbandry. 

The  Inhabitants  make  a  joint  Bufinefs  of  Dyking  in 
feveral  large  Tracts,  which  ferve  firft  as  common  Fields, 
and  being  afterwards  fub-divided  into  fmaller  Allotments 
are  capable  of  the  various  Improvements  before- mention- 
ed :  Their  Dykes  are  made  of  large  Sods  of  Marlh  cut 
up  in  fquare  Pieces,  and  raifed  about  Jive  Feet  higher 
than  the  common  Surface,  of  a  competent  Thicknefs  to 
withftand  the  Force  of  the  Tides,  and  foon  grow  very  firm 
and  durable,  being  overfpread  with  Grafs,  and  have  com- 
ipoply  Foot  paths  on  their  Summit,  which  are  both  con- 
venient and  deliditful. 

On  the  different  Branches  of  Minas  Bay  are  fcattered 
feveral  other  Towns  and  Villages,  whofe  Inhabitants  pur- 
fue  the  fame  Methods  of  improving  their  Lands. 

Th  -re  is  one  Thing  peculiar  to  thefe  People  which  has 
fecured  their  Allegiance  during  the  prefent  War,  that  is, 
the  Dread  of  having  their  Dykes  cut  down,  and  their 
Eftates  by  that  Means  ruined  by  the  Englijh  :  this  Pradtice 
they  felt  the  fevere  EfFeds  of  about  forty  Years  ago,  when 
their  Lands  were  thus  expofed  by  the  N^w-  England  For- 
ces, the  Remembrance  of  which  is  pretty  ftrongly  im- 
prelTed  en  the  old  Inhabitants,  and  has  had  a  very  gop^ 
Effc<ft  on  their  Pofterity. 

Mh;as  h  (o  fituated,  a§  to  have  a  fliort  and  eafy  Com-? 
jnunicauoa  with  the  extreme  Parts  of  the  Provincea  being 

Within 


ovement 

are  ca- 
;  render^ 
je  Years, 
of  Salts, 
enewed, 
'eems  by 
rcby  its 
Owner : 
produce 
Ufes  of 

'king  in 
1  Fields, 
lotments 
Tiention- 
arlh  cut 
higher 
knefs  to 
ery  firm 
ve  com- 
oth  con- 

fcattered 
nts  pur- 

lich  has 
that  is, 
id  their 
Praftice 
0,  when 
fjd  For- 
^ly  im- 
y  Qopi 

r  Com-f 
3  being 


(  37  ) 

within  a  Days  March  of  Chebu5lo^  on  the  South  Shor^ 
and  not  much  farther  by  Land  from  Annapolis^  is  about 
thirty  Leagues  by  Water  from  St.  John^s  River,  and  is  not 
much  farther  from  Tetamagauche, 

From  this  Account  of  the  Country  and  its  Inhabitants^ 
it  appears  that  Minas  is  not  only  the  mod  confiderable 
Part  of  it,  but  is  mod  properly  fituated  for  a  Metropolis, 
and  confequently  requires  a  ftrong  Fortrels  for  its  Security  ; 
feveral  Places  have  been  propofed  in  and  near  the  Town 
for  this  Purpofe,  upon  one  of  which  (lands  the  Stonehoufe 
which  is  Proof  againft  fmall  Arms ;  this  is  built  on  an 
Eminence  that  commands  great  Part  of  the  Town,  but 
being  overlooked  by  high  Land  on  three  Sides,  would  be 
greatly  expofed  in  cafe  of  an  Attack :  There  is  another 
Eminence  that  (lands  by  the  River  Gafpero  to  the  Eaft- 
ward  of  the  Town,  which  is  fubjeft  to  the  like  Incon- 
venience j  but  the  moft  proper  Place,  if  not  one  of  the 
fineft  in  the  World,  on  account  of  its  natural  Situation,  is 
an  IQand  of  Upland  about  a  Quarter  of  a  Mile  long,  that 
commands  the  Mouth  of  the  River,  is  furrounded  with 
fait  Marlhes,  and  has  no  firm  Land  within  a  Mile  of  it. 

The  Subftance  of  thefe  Marfhes  is  fo  fpongy  and  porous 
below  the  Level  of  the  common  Tides,  as  that  it  is  im- 
po(rible  to  open  Trenches,  but  they  will  be  diredtly  filled 
with  Water,  and  as  they  are  commonly  flowed  at  the 
Full  and  Change  without  the  Dykes,  it  will  appear  im- 
practicable to  make  a  regular  Attack  againft  it  by  Land, 
or  to  proceed  by  Tapping  or  mining,  and  'tis  equally  fo 
from  Ships,  unlefs  it  be  attempted  at  high  Water,  and  this 
muft  be  done  in  a  very  (hort  Time  on  account  of  the  Ra- 
pidity of  the  Tide,  which  on  fuch  an  Occafion  would  be 
fequally  hazardous  to  them  as  the  Oppofition  of  a  ftrong 
Garrifon. 

This  Illand  commands  the  Profpedt  of  Minas  Bay,  fo 
that  no  VefTcl  can  come  in  or  go  out  undifcovered,  and  if 
it  is  regularly  fortified,  rnight  hp  defended  by  two  hundred 
Men  againCt  the  whole  Force  of  Cdmda  and  the  Nova 

"      ■•'  .      If 


'i.  ■ 
;f:! 


ill] 


m 
r 


III 


ili; 


( 38 ) 

If  this  Plan  be  approved  of,  'tis  very  cafy  to  make  an 
open  Road  from  hence  to  Chelu5io  \ox  all  Sorts  of  Car- 
riages, it  not  being  zbove  forty  Miles  through  the  Country, 
and  erecting  a  wooden  Blockhoufe  midway,  that  is  Proof 
againft  fmall  Arms,  might  ferve  as  a  Place  of  Security 
to  Travellers,  and  deter  the  Savages  from  interrupting  the 
new  Settlements. 

It  will  be  alfo  requidte  to  fortify  the  Country  imme- 
diately, that  being  a  preparatory  Step  which  requires  fome 
time  to  execute,  and  will  be  found  necefTary  to  precede 
the  propofed  Settlements,  whofe  Neighbourhood  will  na- 
turally raife  a  Jealoufy  among  the  French  and  Indians^ 
that  may  create  a  great  deal  of  Trouble,  and  retard  the 
defign*d  Progrefs. 

To  prevent  the  latter  from  being  troublefome,  the  Go- 
vernor and  Council  ihould  be  diredted  to  take  Hoftages 
of  them  to  fecure  the  Performance  of  fuch  Treaties  as 
ihall  be  entered  into ;  for  unlefs  fome  falutary  Precautions 
of  this  Kind  are  ufed,  'cis  much  better  to  continue  the 
"War  t'll  they  are  wholly  extirpated ;  *tis  evident  that  for 
many  Years  the  Indians  did  as  much  Mifchief  in  Neztt- 
England  during  a  Peace  as  in  Time  of  War,  which  has 
proceeded  from  the  Inftigations  of  the  Romijh  Mifliona- 
yies  amongft  them,  and  the  Want  of  Power  in  the  Engli/b^ 
to  purfue  and  punifh  them  in  their  wild  Retreats.  It  is 
expedient  that  a  diredt  Enquiry  fhould  be  made  into  the 
Claims  and  Titles  of  thefe  Inhabitants,  that  their  Bounda- 
ries may  be  fixed ;  and  to  prevent  future  Contentions,  all 
?he  Lands  that  are  in  the  Difpofal  of  the  Crown  fhould  be 
furveyed,  and  the  Nature  of  their  Soil,  and  different  Qua- 
iities  for  Improvement  enquired  into  -,  that  a  Report  be 
made  to  his  Majefty,  of  the  moft  commodious  Places  on 
navigable  Rivers,  and  the  Sea  Coafts,  for  fettling  of  Town- 
fhips,  for  the  Conveniency  of  the  Cod  Fi/hery,  and  the 
Profecution  of  Agriculture. 

The  Setdement  of  this  Province  will  be  attended  witl| 
fome  Charge  to  the  Government,  and  on  that  Account  may 
probably  meet  with  Interruption  j  yet  as  the  general  Ad- 

vantage^ 


i  f 


(  39  ) 

vantages  are  (o  confpicuous,  nothing  fhould  be  permit- 
ted to  defeat  it;  for  altho*  the  Exper.ce  may  at  fiift  be 
confiderable,  it  will  not  be  durable,  as  the  new  Inhabitants, 
by  a  well  regulated  Militin,  may  be  able  in  a  few  Years 
to  defend  themfelves ;  this  was  the  Cale  with  the  Colonies 
in  New  England  from  tb«,ir  Infancy,  altho*  they  ftruggled 
under  Difficulties  infinitely   exceeding    any  that  the  pro- 
pofed  Settlements  can  be  fubjeft  to,  whilft  Great- Britain 
commands  at  Sea :  The  French  Inhabitants  muft  continue 
to  be  neutral,  as  they  ftile  themfelves  now,  and  the  Indians 
are  become  fo  inconfiderable  that  very  little  Danger  is  to 
be  apprehended  from  them,  if  the  Settlements  are  made 
compad,  and  in  a  defenfible  Form ;  the  Maintenance  of 
Forts,  and  Garrifons  will  then  be  a  temporary  Charge  only, 
and  foon  ceafe  to  be  necefTary ;  but  if  it  fhould  not,  the 
Introduction  of  Proteftants,  and  fecuring  the  Country  from 
France^  will  greatly  over-ballance  the  Expence,   and  ex^ 
ceed  all  the  real,  and  imaginary  Advantages  that  have  been 
fuggefted  to  refult  from   the  PofTefTion  of  Cape  Breton : 
As  this  AfTertion  may  be  thought  repugnant  to  the  feveral 
Importances  of  that  IQand,  which  have  been  laid  before  the 
Public,  I  Ihall  enter  more  particularly  into  the  Confidera- 
tion  of  it,  and  its  Fifhery,  than  I  at  firft  intended :  It  haa 
already  been  obferved,  that  the  Place  is  barren  compared 
with  Nova  Scotia^  and  will  never  admit  of  any  confiderable 
Improvements:  The  Truth,  and  Reafon  of  thefe  Fafts 
are  very  obvious  %  Cape  Breton  was  as   foon  known,   aa 
Nova  Scotia  or  Newfoundland,  but  was  never  thought  to  be 
of  any  Value  to  the  PolTcffors  of  thofe  Places,  and  it  was 
the  Exclufion  from  them,  that  put  the  Fre?jcb  on  fortify- 
ing, and  induced  their  Settlement  of  it,  and  notwithftand- 
ing  2i  thirty  Years  PofTeflion,  its  Produce,  exclufive  of  Fifli, 
will  not  fubfift   a  hundred  Families ;  its  Winters  are  of 
great  Length,  and  extreme  cold,  it  being  common  for  the 
Frofts  to  continue  till  the  latter  End  of  May,  and  it  is  near 
the  Middle  of  that  Month  before  it  is  free  of  Ice :  For  as 
this  Ifland  forms  an  Eddy  to  the  Current  fetting   through 
the  Gulf  of  St,  Lawrm^f  it  draws  fuch  Quantities  into  its 

Hiiibours 


Ilil 


lit 


WW 


m 


11' 


'I* 


C40) 

ttarbours  as  to  obftrufl:  the  Fifliery,  and  render  the  Na- 
vigation very  dangerous :  During  the  Summer  it  is  fo  fre- 
quently fubjedt  to  Fogs,  as  to  have  neither  Heat  nor  Sun- 
fhinfi  fufficient  to  ripen  its  Corn  and  Fruits.  I  cannot 
undertake  to  affign  a  philofophical  Reafon  for  the  Diffe- 
rence in  the  Temperature  of  the  Air  in  two  Places  lying 
in  the  fame  Latitude,  and  fo  near  together  as  Nova  Scotia 
and  this  Ifland,  but  to  obferve,  that  as  the  Duration,  and 
feveral  Degrees  of  cold,  moderate,  and  warm  Weather 
in  all  Places  vary  with,  and  depend  upon  the  prevailing 
"Winds,  in  the  feveral  Seafons  of  the  Year,  fo  in  this,  they 
commonly  blow  from  fuch  Points  in  the  Winter  as  bring 
on  Storms  of  Snow  and  Froft,  and  in  the  Summer  thofe 
are  moft  frequent,  that  blow  direftly  from  the  Banks^ 
accompanied  with  thick  Fogs  and  Mifts,  and  altho'  fome 
Parts  of  Nova  S/^f^tia  are  fubjeft  to  them,  'tis  neither  in 
Degree  nor  Durition  fufficient  to  affeft  the  Produce  of 
the  Earth,  nor  to  interrupt  the  Courfe  of  Bufmefs  by 
Land  or  Sea. 

It  is  well  known,  that  notwithftanding  the  Situation  of 
this  Ifland,  four  Fifths  of  the  French  Filhery  have  been 
profecuted  in  other  Places :  Their  Bankers^  amounting  to 
more  than  two  hundred  Sail  of  Ships  in  Time  of  Peace, 
who  cure  their  Fi(h  in  Pickle,  commonly  called  Mud-Ftjh^ 
make  their  Voyages  on  the  Banks  oS  Newfoundland  with- 
out entering  a  Port  in  America^  and  their  largeft  Ships 
to  the  Number  of  two  hundred  Sail,  conftantly  ufe 
Ft(hoi  *,   5^«  Julian^Si  and  other  Harbours  on  the  North- 

^  Eaft 


;  / 


y 


*  Captain  Rcut  in  a  BiUnitr  of  fturtttm  Guns  and  «*r  hun- 
drei  Men.  wi»h  a  Ship  of  near  ihe  fame  Force  attacked  this 
Port  in  Augufi  1744;  ''  *'*'  defended  by /v/  Ships  navigated 
with  ftur  bundrii  and  fifty  Men  ;  tw  of  tigbtttu  Guns  each, 
ent  of  ftxtiin,  em  of  fturtitn^  and  %n»  of  fwtlve,  drawn  up  in 
a  circular  Line  round  the  Harbour,  and  altho'  both  his  Veffcls 
grounded  at  the  Entrance,  and  were  expofed  to  a  continual  Fire 
for  fivt  Hours  from  all  the  Ships  within  point-blank  Mufket- 
Shot,  he  bravely  took  ihcm  nU  with  the  ^ofi  of  no  wore  than 

iigbtttm 


yt.r'JiM- 


(  4»  J 

Eaft  Side  oF  that  Ifland,  Philips  Say^  and  other  Parti 
or  the  Continent  of  LdbradoTy  and  Gafpee  in  Nova 
Scotia  -,  in  theie  feveral  Places  they  have  no  fettled 
Habitations,  but  having  eredted  Houfes,  and  cleared 
(mall  Places  for  Gardens,  they  raife  Roots  and  Her- 
bage lufficient  to  ferve  them  yearly  for  Soup  and  Sal- 
lad,  until  theix-  Return  to  France:  It  appears  then, 
that  they  improve  feveral  Ports  more  commodious  for 
their  Purpofe  than  any  on  Cape  Breton  ;  *t's  true  they 
have  no  Right  to  fifli  on  the  Coafts  of  Nova  Scotia, 
but  their  Claim  on  the  North  Side  of  the  Gulf  of 
St.  Lawrence  has  never  been  contefled,  and  if  it  is 
in  the  Power  of  this  Nation  to  exclude  them  totally 
from  the  Amrican  Fifliery,  or  from  our  own  only, 
the  PofTeffion  of  Cape  Breton  cannot  turn  the  Scale 
fo  much  in  their  Favour  as  has  been  apprehended  : 
In  fhort.  its  greateft  Conveniency  to  France  confifts 
in  its  being  a  middle  Port  between  Canada  and  the 
French  ,  Dominions  in  general,  in  Europe  and  the  tVef^ 
Indies^  and  could  any  proper  Means  be  devifed  to 
prevent  their  future  Intercourfe  with  the  Britijh  Co- 
lonies  from  whence  they  are  fupplied  with  Stores  and 
Provifions  in  return  for  the  Produce  of  a  contraband 
Itrade^  the  Inhabitants  would  be  under  a  Necelfuy  of 
returning  annually  to  France  in  their  Filh-Ships,  or 
fpending  a  miferable  Winter  with  little  elfe  than  Salt- 
Fifh   for  their    Subfiftence. 

In  order  to  rival  the  French  in  the  Cod-Fijhery^ 
Vis  neceffiry  to  confine  them  to  the  Limits  ftipulatcd 
by  the  Treaty  of  Utrecht^  which  will  exclude  them 
from  all  the  Banks  of  Nova  Scotiay  and  it  does  not 
appear  by  that,  or  any  other  Treaty,  that  they  have 
a  Right  to  fifli    to  the    Southward    of  Cape  Bonavifta 

F  on 


lightiiH  Men  ;  he  took  snother  Ship  at  St.  Julian  ^  of  (ixtttn 
Guns  and  nimty  Men,  ttn  Ships  on  the  Banks  with  thrte  hun- 
dred and  fix  Men,  retook  a  Britijh  Ship,  burnt  til  the  Fnncb 
Houfes,  and  Stores  in  fiviH  difFcrent  Harbours,  v/ith  ftnr  v'el'o 
U\i,  and  upwards  of  ligbt  hunirfd  Allying  Shallops^  all  withio  a  Montb. 


1 


ill 


fi 


£iiil    . 


il 

I 

1 


'. 


•     C  40 

en  Ne^vfoundlandt  between  whofe  Banks  and  the  For- 
mer there  are  no  others  of  any  Note  or  Confe- 
quence. 

This  would  deprive  them  of  a  great  Part  of  their 
Fifhery,  employing  near  two  hundred  and  Fifty  Sail 
of  Ships  in  Time  of  Peace,  and  furnilhes  the  Mar- 
kets in  France,  Spain,  Portugal,  and  the  Streights 
with  Mud  FiJJj  -,  and  as  to  the  remaining  Part,  the 
Settlement  of  Nova  Scotia,  would  foon  enable  the  In- 
habitants to  catch,  and  export  larger  Quantities,  bet- 
ter in  Quality,  and  cheaper  than  the  French  could 
poflibly  afford  their  own,  whereby  the  whole  would 
be  of  little  Value  to  them  more  than  for  their  own 
Confumption. 

The  Ifle  of  Sahle,  and  Cape  Salle  Banks  on  this 
Coaft  are  fo  commodioufly  fituated  as  to  admit  of 
a  fine  Fifhery  in  the  Winter  whenever  the  Country 
is  fettled  and  flocked  with  Provifions  :  At  prefent 
the  Fifliermen  from  New- England  make  three  Fairs 
there  in  a  Year,  the  firft  of  which  being  profecuted 
in  March,  is  worth  both  the  other,  as  the  Fi(h  taken 
then  exceed  any  in  the  World,  and  if  they  could 
be  landed  and  cured  in  the  Winter  Months,  five 
Fairs  might  be  yearly  made  inftead  of  three,  and 
the  two  additional  ones  equal  to  the  bed  of  the  for- 
mer, which  would  in  a  few  Years  be  of  more  Con- 
ftquencc  to  Qreat- Britain  than  any  thing  the  French 
are  capable  of  profecuting  to  fupport  their  Rival- 
fhip. 

If  this  Point  had  been  well  attended  to  twenty  or 
thirty  Years  paft,  their  Fidiery  might  have  been  re- 
duced before  this  Time  to  a  contemptible  Situation  ^ 
but  the  Cafe  was  fo  different,  that  they  not  only 
filhed  where  they  pleafed,  but  commonly  infulted 
our  Veflcls  whenever  they  met  them,  for  excepting 
feme  of  their  Fijbermen  which  were  feized  by  Captain 
Smart  on  the  Canfo  Station,  for  fifhing  without  their 
Limits  contrary  to  Treaty^  thej^  never  met  wi^h  any  In- 

Cerruptipn^ 


\  II 


e  for- 
Confe- 

f  their 
'ty  Sail 
Mar- 
^reights 
rt,  the 
the  In- 
I,   bet- 
could 
would 
Ir  own 

on  this 

nit    of 

"ountry 

prefent 

'   Fairs 

tfecuted 

taken 

could 

five 

|,,    and 

he  for- 

!  Con- 

French 

Rival- 

mty  or 
:en  re- 
lation ^ 
only 
nfulced 
cepting 
I^aptain 
t  their 
ny  Jn- 

uption^ 


(  43  ) 

terruption,  but  to  prevent  fuch  Accidents  For  the  fu- 
ture, as  our  Ships  were  earlier  out  than  theirs,  they 
ever  after  fent  a  fuperior  Force  to  deter  our  Men  of 
War  from  the  like  Pradlice,  and  have  ruled  abfolute 
Lords  of  thofe  Seas. 

As  that  Treaty  is  the  Bafis  of  the  prefent  Peace, 
and  the  Terms  of  it  in  relation  to  the  Fifliery  are 
plain  and  intelligible,  it  cannot  be  doubted  but  the 
Adminiftration  will  caufe  them  to  be  punftually  ob- 
ferved,  more  efpecially  as  they  fall  under  the  Do- 
minion of  the  Britijh  Flag,  whofe  Honour  is  imme- 
diately concerned  in  fecuring  the  Rights  of  this  King- 
dom againft  all  Encroachments,  and  in  protecting  its 
Subjects  from  Infults  on  every  Part  of  the  Ocean. 


FINIS. 


Juft   Publifhed, 

AL  E  T'^E  R  from  Common  Honefty  to  Common 
Senfe  \  Jhewing^  how  poor  Honefty,  heing  in  Diftrefs, 
fought  for  Employment  to  an  eminent  Citizejt  in  Trade,  an 
Attorney^  a  Recruiting  Officer^  a  B  Jhop,  a  T'reafurer,  and 
a  Parliament  Man^  &c.  but  was  refused  by  *em  all,  and  very 
ill  treated,  and  at  laft  obliged  to  apply  to  his  Kinfman  Com- 
mon Senfe,  Publijher  of  a  'News-Paptr,  where  he  readily 
found  ^ncouragejnent.  Very  diverting  and  inftrudlve. 
Sold  by  T.  Fleet,  at  the  Heart  and  Crown  in  CornhilL 
?rk€  pig^hteen  Pence,  old  fcm\ 


^^r^^^^^Wte-. 


